Page 32 - POR320Summer2018

POR320 Summer 2018

por320summer2018.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_85.html

Região Nordeste (in blue/azul)

Bahia

By Alfonso Alvarez

Bahia is located in the northeastern coast of Brazil, and is the fourth largest state in Brazil by
population. The capital of Bahia is Salvador, and was founded in 1549. This city was originally
named Cidade do São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, and was the first capital of
Brazil. Salvador is also one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas.

Bahia’s Economic stronghold which was once in agriculture, slaving, and ranching, is now
mainly powered by manufacturing interests. As of 2004, Bahia boasts the biggest GDP of the
states of the North and Northeast. Bahia exports chemicals, mineral metallics, soybean, paper,

and vehicles. Bahia is also the main producer and exporter of cacao in Brazil.

Gastronomy in Bahia is influenced by Portuguese and Amerindian cuisine, but the largest
influence by far, is is African. Bahian cuisine contains generous amounts of malagueta chili
peppers and dendê oil extracted from an African palm that grows well in the northeastern
climate. Several Bahian dishes also contain seafood (usually shrimp), coconut milk, banana,
and okra (ladies’ fingers).
Moqueca is one of the region’s most popular dishes. It is a mixture of shrimp – perhaps with

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