Brazil Is Having a Moment in the Netherlands, And Mate Is Next

Okay so as a Brazilian living here, I have to talk about this, because it genuinely makes me happy, Brazilian food and drinks are having a real moment in the Netherlands right now, and honestly, it was about time.

Pão de queijo is everywhere I look lately, little cheese bread balls, chewy inside, crispy outside, made with tapioca flour instead of wheat, naturally gluten free too, which probably helped it catch on so fast here, and my mom used to make a huge batch on Sunday mornings, the smell alone taking me right back home.

Açaí bowls are right there with it, frozen açaí blended into a thick purple base, topped with granola, banana, whatever you like, and while in Brazil it is a beach staple, here it has become this whole café culture thing, popping up on menus from Amsterdam to Utrecht.

And then there are the drinks, caipirinha basically already won here, cachaça, lime, sugar, ice, simple and iconic, and every Brazilian bar in the country pours one, but here is the thing I am most excited about, yerba mate is finally having its own moment too. In Brazil, mate has always been the everyday ritual, the drink you share with friends, on the beach, before class, whenever, and it is only now starting to get that same recognition here, which I love watching happen.

If you want to try any of this yourself, there are some genuinely good spots around the country, Samba Kitchen and Carioca in Utrecht both bring proper Brazilian flavor to the table, Tapi n Bowls is a solid pick for açaí, and for the full churrasco experience, Barraca in Amsterdam does the whole rodizio thing, walking around your table with skewers of grilled meat straight off the fire.

So between the food already winning people over, and caipirinha holding its spot as the go to Brazilian drink, mate is right on its heels, with the taste, the ritual, and the natural energy that fits perfectly into how people already live here, always moving, always needing a little lift.

Which brings me to Mati, obviously, real yerba mate, no sugar, made the way it has always been made in Brazil, so next time you are at one of these spots enjoying pão de queijo or a caipirinha, keep mate in mind for the next round.

Brazil is trending in the Netherlands, and mate is just getting started.