Paçoca facts for kids
Industrialized paçoca chips.
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| Place of origin | Brazil |
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| Region or state | Minas Gerais, São Paulo |
| Main ingredients | Ground peanuts, sugar |
Paçoca (pronounced pah-SOH-kah) is a super popular Brazilian candy! It's mainly made from ground-up peanuts, sugar, and a tiny bit of salt. Sometimes, other flours like corn, oat, or cassava flour are added too.
This sweet treat is a big part of Brazilian country cooking, especially in the southeastern states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. You can find it made at home or in factories. Paçoca is also a favorite snack during the Festa Junina, which is a fun yearly festival celebrating country life in Brazil. People love Paçoca for its unique dry texture and sweet taste. It's truly one of Brazil's most beloved candies!
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The History of Paçoca
Paçoca as we know it today was created a long time ago, during the time of Colonial Brazil. This was when Brazil was a colony of Portugal.
But even before the Portuguese arrived, Native Brazilians had similar recipes. They would mix cassava flour with other ingredients. The settlers later changed these recipes by adding sugar, which led to the delicious Paçoca we enjoy now.
What's in a Name?
The name "Paçoca" comes from an old language called Tupi. The word is "posok," and it means "to crumble" or "to shatter."
Interestingly, there's also a savory (salty) dish called Paçoca! Both the sweet candy and the salty dish share the same name because they both involve mixing flour with other ingredients. The candy uses peanut and sugar, while the salty dish uses carne-de-sol (which is a type of dried beef). Even though they have the same name and a similar origin, they are now completely different foods!
How Paçoca is Made
Making traditional Paçoca used to be a special process. First, peanuts were roasted until they were just right. Then, all the ingredients were ground together using a tool called a pilão. A pilão is like a big mortar and pestle, used for crushing things.
Today, factories make Paçoca using modern machines. Instead of a pilão, they use big industrial blenders to mix everything. After mixing, the Paçoca is often pressed into different shapes. The most common shapes you'll see are squares or small cork-like cylinders.
Different Kinds of Paçoca
Some companies have made new versions of the classic Paçoca recipe. For example, you can find a "diet" version that has no sugar added. There are also versions with an extra strong peanut flavor, for those who really love peanuts!
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See also
In Spanish: Paçoca de amendoim para niños
