Are you 18 or above at the time of submitting this application?

Yes

Are you able to submit your entry in English?

Yes

Do you agree to the "Favorite Food Challenge" Terms and Conditions

Yes

What Ashoka team(s) are you on?

Changemakers

Are you applying from a Desktop or Mobile device?

Mobile

What Continent are you located?

South America

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Photo of Your Favorite Food

3712

Your Favorite Food

juçara palm tree fruit cream with cassava flour

Flavors and Textures: How would you describe the flavors and textures of your favorite food? What about these flavors and textures make it one of your favorite things to eat?

Love the combination of cold Juçara pulp's rich flavor, mixed with bananas for some sweetness, and cambuci fruit for some sourness. That cream reminds a sorbet and is cold, and it is topped with roasted mandioca flour for a crunchy texture

Meal Prep: How is your favorite food prepared? Is it easy to source and prepare, or is does it require skills or patience?

It is easy to prepare, it is not common to gather all the ingredientes though

Cultural Significance: How does your favorite food reflect the cultural heritage and traditions of your community? Share examples of its context and importance to you.

Juçara and cambuci are native fruits from the Atlantic Rainforest, which is the biome from the region where I was born and where I currently live. Juçara is an ingredient mostly used by traditional and native communities, I first tried it when I was working with agroforestry at a site that had a project to collaborate with these communities, generating jobs and revenue while preserving the forest. Juçara only grows in forests, and harvesting its fruit instead of chopping it to harvest the palm tree core is much more sustainable. It is similar to açaí, which I grew up eating both at the beach or in the big city, and have fond memories going out with friends to eat, but Juçara made much more sense contextually (açai grows at northern Brazil, in the Amazon).