Cheddar Cheese in Brasil?

Coincidently, my wife just made me tacos. She used cream cheese, but she said you can find Cheddar Cheese at any Brazilian grocery store. I know tomorrow is National Taco Day, so good luck.

If you happen to find "Hefty" or "Glad" trash bags please let me know. I am tired of having to use the small bags I get when I buy food for my trash..

Roddie in Retirement

I know that feel, bro. I miss sharp cheddar. Seems like cheddar and durable trash bags are hard to come by here in Sampa. I just bought cheese that looked like cheddar at Tre Mais. It wasn’t cheddar. Though, I found real quality 30 gallon trash bags at the feira from the dude who sells odds and ends and fixes the aluminum pressure cookers and carinhos de feiras.

Ever since I first tasted Queijo Branco, I haven't wanted anything else.

Having said that, I've bought Parmigiano Reggiano at Carrefour, and I think Pao de Acucar probably has small and expensive pieces of cheddar. I've grabbed it off many a comido a quilo buffet table, so, it is available somewhere.

    Coincidently, my wife just made me tacos. She used cream cheese, but she said you can find Cheddar Cheese at any Brazilian grocery store. I know tomorrow is National Taco Day, so good luck.If you happen to find "Hefty" or "Glad" trash bags please let me know. I am tired of having to use the small bags I get when I buy food for my trash..Roddie in Retirement-@roddiesho

We so need Costco to come to Brazil! Just for their trash bags, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap if nothing else

"Attacadao".......that is the name of the Brasilian Costco equivalent. Never shopped at one yet myself, maybe it's worth checking out.

Certainly we have bought cheddar cheese (both mild and mature) several times at Sam's Club in Recife, although supply is not always constant. But queijo branco is not a bad mild equivalent...

I speak as a true Wisconsin "cheesehead" (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheesehead) and in my 14 years on-the-ground in northeastern Brazil (42 total years of experience here) I have ONLY ONCE seen true cheddar (imported from England) here and it was at the Casa dos Frios in Boa Viagem (Recife). Now it cost something like R$450/kg but I bought 1/2kg and it was SHARPer than my Wisconsin-cheddar-taste-buds were used to - and I like sharp cheddar.

As I said, I'm from the place where the "cows are truly the happiest cows" (although an Austrian acquaintance differs vehemently with that claim - something about yodeling with their cows ) and I'm used to going to specialized cheese stores. They used to line the border to Illinois (Last Stop For Real Wisconsin Cheese). Even in large WI warehouse groceries one can find 150+ types of cheese. Monroe, Wisconsin used to be ground-zero for milk pricing around the USA and one can still stop in at the Alp and Dell Cheese Store  (alp and dell cheese dot com) which is what I did on my last visit in Sept. of 2022 (Good Lord! I needed some good stinky cheese). I lived the first 53 years of my life surrounded by some of the best cheese-crafters that the USA offers - I won't battle the European perspective on cheese but our annual worldchampioncheese dot org - see top-20 world cheeses - is nearly as big as our World Dairy Expo (happening right now).

And while I'm bragging about Wisconsin (which I don't usually find reason to ever since Scott Walker led the state back to the dark ages) let me say that I witnessed the Great Cheese Fire of 1991 when 12,500 tons of dairy products from a total of 50 million tons of food products was fueled by butter. Here's an image for you: fireman turns on hose and is jetted slowly backwards by the force of the water and the flow of butter up to his ankles....... We lost a lot of cheddar that day.

Factoid: Wisconsin statute 98.17 states that restaurants cannot legally serve margarine unless it is specifically requested by the customer. Milk is milk. Butter is butter. Cheese is cheese. I've seen no Brazil-produced cheddar - but sure hope that somebody can find me a source.

Cheddar here in Brazil: I have ONLY FOUND those plasticized "cheddar" slices that remind me a great deal of Velveeta (warned in 2002 of falsely advertising itself as cheese) - it is not cheddar ........and I found the imported from Cheddar England once at Casa dos Frios in Boa Viagem.

Final word: cheese variety is improving quickly here in Brazil. There are a lot of imports but I am particularly interested in the variations I am finding coming from rural areas. Certainly, MG leads the way but if you ever have a hankering for a good solid goat cheese do try our (Paraíba)  Fazenda Carnauba cheese that Manelito (Ariano Suassuna's cousin) came to coax out of the barren semi-arid region of our Cariri. While I am finding a variety of cheeses there is still  NO CHEDDAR!

MattB

@mberigan

I know Casa dos Frios well, and they do some good stuff, as did the specialist cheese shop in Trade Center in Recife - but I have never seen cheddar there... and have not visited for a while. Only ever found it in Sams Club in Imbiribeira...

@rraypo Good Idea, I visited the Sam's Club in Fortaleza, but was not looking for it then. The next time I go to the big city I will check out our Sam's Club.

Roddie in Retirement

I can buy A Dutch Masterpiece cheeses in Ilhéus. No cheddar. Not cheap.

@mberigan Do you think cheese from Fazenda Carnauba would survive the trip to Ilhéus via SEDEX (9 days)?

   10/04/23 I can buy A Dutch Masterpiece cheeses in Ilhéus. No cheddar. Not cheap.
   

    -@alan279

Same here.  We have a range of Dutch, Italian, and (fewer) French cheeses available in Manaus.  Nothing British or American, though, except occasionally some Stilton around Christmastime, for some reason.

    Anyone know where I can buy cheddar cheese in Brazil?
Thanks for any advice.
Alan
   

    -@alan279

Look for your city's produce Market ( Fruits, Vegetables, Poultry ). Every town has one cluster for these vendors.  If you can't find them, then there isn't any at all.

It's often disguised as "Mercado Municipal" or Mercado Atacadista.   Often times there is an online directory with all vendors listed. You can comb through and call them ahead.   And these places are a great excuse for an outing. 

The equivalent of Store Stalls are "Boxes" , so look for Boxes and you will find what is being sold.

Also, the Assai chain stocks quiet a bit on cheeses.  Your neighborhood supermarket seldom stocks variety, only the SKUs that move through the shelves. 

Also Cheddar is sold through McDonald's and Burger King, so find yourself their vendor, unless they use a Distribution Warehouse of their own ( which often they do ).,

Here's an example for Sao Paulo ( Great place for a meal and shopping, a nice restored turn of the Century Beaux Arts building ).

https://www.mercadomunicipalsp.com/

( don't buy fruits from them, it is a tourist trap. Cheeses, seafood, meat, condiments are ok on price, For fruits better deals go back to the rear of the building at Rua da Cantareira ).Also,accross the parking lot/river, you will find more stores to buy your seasonal nuts, dried fruit, oils, condiments, cereals, cheeses.  Head out to Rua Santa Rosa  and Praça São Vito for those.

Sao Paulo still, mostly produce,

https://ceagesp.gov.br/entrepostos/varejoes/   This one is huge.  On the Commuter Rail Line.  Besides the covered concourse, every vendor has a private box storage place where produce is bought /sold, and stored.

Rio de Janeiro

https://cadeg.com.br/mercado-municipal-rj/

Florianopolis

https://mercadopublicofloripa.com.br/

Fortaleza

https://mercadocentraldefortaleza.com.br/

Campinas

https://conheca.campinas.sp.gov.br/pois/294

Salvador

https://www.mercadomodelosalvador.com/

@alan279

In a pinch you can always look for the liquid cheddar in most grocery stores here.

They sell it in a squeezable bag. If it is the flavor you are basic flavor you are looking for, it should suffice.

Just know it wont taste like the sharp taste you are probably used to - but is a nice compromise. 

@alan279

You'll have to find your way here to PB for a visit some time. You can find Carnauba in João Pessoa, Campina Grande but they also have an online store on their website. Maybe ask them directly?

I'll send you a link DM so as not to advertise here on the forum.

Matt

Two Americans that lived in Ilhéus had previously lived in Joao Pessoa. Both recommended I visit Paraiba. I haven’t made it to Paraiba yet.

@ExpatUSATravels Thanks, but I don’t like the liquid cheddar in Brazil. Is it even cheese? 🤔

requijiao is like cream cheese kraft dinner spread. designed better but, in terms of cheeses, huge fan of minas gerais cheese specific to their brand of mozerella. side note it costs a pretty penny but the taste is on point!

    @ExpatUSATravels Thanks, but I don’t like the liquid cheddar in Brazil. Is it even cheese? 🤔
   

    -@alan279

Try the  Colby Cheese as an alternative.

https://www.theburgerstore.com.br/produ … ger-store/

https://www.mmadistribuidora.com.br/que … -peca-180g

I bought a few grams of Prima Donna blue today. The price was R$250/kg.

    I bought a few grams of Prima Donna blue today. The price was R$250/kg.
   

    -@alan279

Whooa!!! 250 buckaroos per kilo for cheddar ?????   Time to adapt and improvise.   Try Queijo Mineiro ( white Fresh  non aged vCheese ).

And to think Cheddar is close to the Government Cheese ( USDA ) , stored for years in warehouses!!!

Daaaammn!!

    "Attacadao".......that is the name of the Brasilian Costco equivalent. Never shopped at one yet myself, maybe it's worth checking out.
   

    -@Gasparzinho 777

Atacadao....

Assai is one of them  https://www.assai.com.br/quem-somos

Makro, the Dutch counterpart, is said to be leaving the country after decades being a staple

The key word for better search results is not Atacadao.  It is "Atacarejo". Google  or Duck go Duck it.

@rraypo n their hot dogs n ice cream, fries.

I've needed cheddar cheese for many recipes and have yet to find it.  I'm not talking American cheese which is the slices you often see in the bakeries or that cheese wiz (is it even cheese) often found on cheese fries here.  I agree with the poster who talked about going to the mercado municipal.  I found a little shop at the one near us and it had a block of cheddar.  Now whether it processed like a real cheddar or not who knows but it tasted like a cheddar. 

If you are in Curitiba, go to the Mercado municipal there. 

@Cserebogar

Ground beef, (all of their meats) their rotisserie chicken, their pizza...

@alan279 I agree.  I just emailed mainland/fonterra to see if they sell it anywhere in Brasil  hopefully they reply quickly and with good news!

    Anyone know where I can buy cheddar cheese in Brazil?
Thanks for any advice.
Alan
   

    -@alan279

Just get the phone number from Cabot and order a big block of theirs.  Don't buy Velveetea. It's crap.

And learn how to make Root Beer. A Few burger parties, you will be famous and etertain your groupies.,

@alan279

I’m putting my two cents in on the ”Chedda!” conversation. Having spent most of my life in Upstate NY and Vermont I’ve consumed plenty of the good stuff.  Anyway, in Brazil I’ve never eaten anything that resembles aged cheddar. It’s the aging process (3-18 months at 55 farenheit ) that probably keeps Brazillians from producing it. Costly and time consuming and refridgeration requird.

That being said it appears in Brazil what we refer to as cheddar cheese is called "cheddar ingles”. This differentiates it from the process cheese food wiz stuff. Try googling:

QUEIJO CHEDDAR INGLÊS MILD BLOCO 2,3KG

for example. 

https://queijosdonovomundo.com.br/produ … adicional/

https://www.lojacalimp.com.br/9wamdz4wq-queijo-cheddar-ingles-mild-fracao-170g

ps..  You’ll never find Maple Syrup either

@bepmoht Do they sell online?

01-12-24 ps..  You’ll never find Maple Syrup either
   

    -@bepmoht

That one, you can:  a company called Stuttgart imports it from Canada and sells it on Amazon-BR at the not-entirely-unreasonable price of R$62.79 for 250 ml.  We usually buy it in kits of three bottles for our Sunday waffles -- 2 ambers and 1 dark.  Xarope de bordo em português.

I've read  bepmoht post, and the photos on his recommended cheeses got the S.I.F. Labels, which means they are approved by the Brazilian Sanitary authority that covers processed meat and dairy products.  Equivalent to the USDA. 

I would import the cheddar you want to reference, find out the process making, and go roundabout with dairly farmers to see who can reproduce what you want. 

Keep the formulation a secret, if anything, provide the add-ons from your own batches. 

You need vats, refrigeration equipment, lab gear, so best going with an established dairy plant.

Every State has its own dairies, yet, Minas comes out on top when it comes to artisanal production. 

In the South, Agro Coops are how these products are made and distributed to mass scale. 

    Anyone know where I can buy cheddar cheese in Brazil?
Thanks for any advice.
Alan
   

    -@alan279

Just found it..

The Assai Chain of large stores stocks two Brazilian  household names that make their own Cheddar. 

Polenghi, the same maker of those bite sized Gouda Cheeses you can buy anywhere,  packages a 2-1/4 kilos  of cheddar, all sliced up, just like Velveetea.   

And Vigor, also makes a 2-1/4 package, all into smaller blocks, priced at R$ 78,00

Both claim to be Cheddar, and have the orange color.  I haven't sampled, nor i have the inclination to do so.   

The first one will be crap like cheez whiz. Buy the 2nd one. Very expensive  but worth it.

I ❤️ cheddar cheese

@rraypo yup, that's why we stuck a huge roll of Costco aluminum foil in our shipping container to Brazil!

One thing I do appreciate here in Brazil regarding  cheeses, since apparently some many Latins have a propensity to be lactose intolerant, it is easier to buy lactose-free dairy products here compared to USA.

    The first one will be crap like cheez whiz. Buy the 2nd one. Very expensive  but worth it.
   

    -@Cserebogar

Both were on the same price bracket. 

Polenghi's Gouda is pretty decent. They sell well over anywhere, C-Stores, Supermarkets as snack food.  it's a household name.

Vigor, well, they into everything dairy, for ages in Brazil.. Not a big fan of their yougurt.Mine favorite is Batavo, which has real yougurt. 

Both claim on their packages of being cheddar for burgers.