Village Food in AMAZON RAINFOREST - Lemongrass Ants + EXOTIC Energy Drinks! | Manaus, Brazil!

- Good morning, I hope you are having an amazing day, I am Mark Wiens, I am in Manaus in the state of Amazonas, right in the heart of the Amazon jungle. We will stay in the city, but today we are going to take a trip to the

village

, we will take a boat, we will go to a local

village

, we will eat something amazing, prepared locally, village, home cooking, Amazonian

food

. It's going to be an amazing adventure in the Amazon. So we're on our way. (music from the island) On our way first to go find something

exotic

, and the Amazon is just a paradise of fruits,

exotic

fruits, let's try to find some exotic fruits for breakfast before going to the river to take the boat . (island music) - Mari-Mari Sells an incredible selection of exotic fruits.

Fruits I've never seen before. Amazon tropical fruit stand. This is called Maru Maru? - Mari-mari. - Mari-mari, Mari-mari. (chattering and passing traffic) You wouldn't even think it's a fruit and you like to twist it open. Inside it looks like Mentos, like a Mentos pack. Wow, how immediately it tastes like a green apple, but how slimy, it's amazing what comes out of that pod. They just fit perfectly, they are like little tablets. It's remarkable how similar it tastes to a green apple. (chattering and speaking in Portuguese) Very juicy, very fresh, very chewy. - Inga - Inga Locally, it's called Inga, but I'm pretty sure the English name is Ice Cream Pods, or like an ice cream bean, that's what it is.

You can feel it's a bit creamy, oops! Alright. - We lost one. It really doesn't have much of a scent. Mmmm, it's like creamy. It tastes a bit like vanilla ice cream. (indecipherable speech) You just suck on the meat and it's a bit slimy. - Barba? - Biriba. - Huh? - Bi-ri-ba. - Biriba, the biriba. - The outside appearance is just amazing, oh, here it is back here, you can see this is the fruit but it looks like a cherimoya, yeah, a bit like a cherimoya or sour sap, but then it has these amazing little spikes.

Almost like melting, like juicing because it's so ripe. Oh, you might like the smell of cream a bit. - Trying to get something out of this. Oh this is amazing. Mmm, it's so sweet, it's perfectly tart and it dissolves in your mouth and then you have these little seeds that are almost like watermelon seeds. Very similar to custard apple and then something like, with a sour sap type of acidity, like a mild acidity that's like, it just tastes amazing, like pudding. Pudding in a pod. That's so good (car door closes) (island music) I just got to the market, let's go check out the market, maybe some more fruits?

And just see some of the local life in Manaus before taking the boat to the jungle. (chat and friendly talk) - Tucuma? - Wow, obliged. - We are right at the entrance of the market, we find another fruit, it is called Tucuma. And they peel the skin and cut it like a floral formation, almost like a plastic scent. Wow, that's not sweet at all, more sour, but the taste just keeps coming, it's almost like confusing what it tastes like, almost meaty? - That's abundant, you can feel the oil, the fat in it. Vibrant colors, so many fruits and vegetables from the Amazon. - All this area is full of markets, but we are walking towards the municipal market, where we will try a local street

food

that is very common for breakfast, like a sandwich. - Obliged.

It looks like a mini passion fruit. It's like opening the skin, inside it looks like a longan. Mmmm, oh, that's amazing, it's perfectly tart and again like milky, the amount of milky fruit. I just saw behind me, look at this guy, he's chewing on one of those capsules we had earlier this morning. That's amazing, just eating it like a thigh. The fruit snack here is out of control and they are all like unique fruits. Each of the fruits is new to me. Jini-papu, jeni?? - Jenipapo - Jenipapo, it's called Jenipapo. Oh wow, that smells like, smells like fermented raisins.

The whole shell, it's not even shell like, it's soft and then it looks like a stringy pulp on the inside, that's unique. Wow, it has this like, it almost gives off smoke, but it tastes really ripe, very, is it almost inexplicable? It tastes like butter, it tastes like caramel to me. We have just entered the inner section of the municipal market, they sell fish here, amazing, huge, beautiful, so fresh, fresh from the massive rivers. - Okay, whatever sandwich we choose, it's good. - So, just inside the market, we stopped at a small cafe, they have several cafes where they only have a few seats, some tables, some plastic tables around, we have ordered what is one of the specialties of this region in the Amazon. (island music) (general chatter) We have two different things, both with that fruit that we just tried a while ago in the market.

But two surprising things, the most traditional is actually the sandwich that is on a bun. There's a banana there, there is, I think it's just a banana? Fried plantain and Tucu-bea fruit on toasted bread. But the other one we have is just fascinating to me. Like a circular tapioca, cassava peel. I can't wait to try this. That just how it works. The tapioca shell is a little bit stretchy, then you have the really sweet caramelized banana combined with that, meaty, it's actually like meaty Tucu-bea, with palm oils and then you have the salty cheese. - That's a brilliant combination that just works.

That is incredible. - Okay let me take it out of the wrapper so we can see everything, again it's like a toasted bun, bananas, I think there's no cheese, oh wait, there's cheese down here, okay, there's cheese down there too. there. But then a bunch of fruit, a bunch of fried plantains. Add some chili sauce to this, it's just mandatory. The whole thing holds together better. The same ingredients just wrapped in bread, thin crusty bread. Don't settle for this sandwich, this could be the next great sandwich. It's such a good combination, there's like palm nut shavings, Tucu-bea, there's sweet plantain, there's salty cheese.

You could wrap that in anything and it would taste good. (friendly chatter) They're so nice here, they're so nice, that was so delicious, like a sandwich, sandwich sandwich from Amazon, okay, we have to move now. - One of the main fish that they have in this region of the Amazon, from the river is a Tambaqui fish. It is a very good size fish, it is very meaty, with very few bones. We're going to buy one of the fish here and then we're going to go to a local town and we're just going to buy one fish because we're not totally sure what they're going to have?

But we are only going to buy a fish here to bring with us. - How many kilos is it? Four kilos, five kilos? - Four kilos. (music of tribal ch

ants

) - Hey, we arrive at the boat dock and then the river, this is where we will take a boat to the town. (music from the island) - This is beautiful, the color of the water, I guess this is the Río Negro, which is the black river, but it's like, it's almost like brown water. It's not like muddy water, but that's the real color of the water, it looks like brown. (island music) We just stopped by a local house, we're just seeing if they're home, if they're available, if they can cook something for us. (music from the island) - Beautiful and the boat ride to get here was fantastic, the trees, just the variety and diversity of trees, it's like a kilometer from the city so I don't know how authentic it will be.

And then they said they could do a little dancing, so I'm not sure if it's going to be a little touristy, but it's still going to be fun, it's going to be a learning experience, it's going to be beautiful here too. (tribal drums) - There is a school behind here, they even have a soccer field and then these are some of the houses, some of the houses. (mixed animal and human chatter) The monkey is a bit playful, he jumps all over the place, he's preparing the grill there. We are going to have the fish that we brought, some other things that they cook that they prepare from here. (talk and food prep, chopping, slicing) It's like a full time job, the monkey keeps coming back, hey kid, hey dude.

He's friendly, but jumps on everyone and everything. - Chocolate? - Bacaba. - Bacaba. - Batawau. (whisper of grains) (drizzle of water) - Chebe. (South American language spoken) - Wow, the monkey just jumped out of nowhere. Wow, no, that's not chocolate, that's some kind of fruit. It tastes like, it's not sweet at all, wow, it's amazing. It tastes almost like mix crust. Like it tasted like you're drinking bark, amazing. But it is creamy. -Okay, I want to try this other one that he just made. - Guarana. - Guarana. Oh yeah, oh, that tastes like ginseng, like nothing sweet, tastes like ginseng, like a root, like a root.

And then the other one that I want to try, is it guarana? - Yes. - This is guarana powder. Yes, it smells like ginseng. (South American language spoken) - Chebe. -Chebe. Oh man, slightly sour and crunchy like unpopped popcorn. That's good, it's like you're drinking and eating at the same time. - One of the things they eat here are

ants

. So she went to get ants, she puts them in water so they don't spill out of the bucket and I'm not sure how they're going to prepare it yet. Yes, it's definitely going to rain soon. The clouds are approaching, it is getting dark, you can already feel some sparks. (South American language spoken) Mmm, wow, that's a flavor explosion, it tastes like

lemongrass

just released in your mouth, that's delicious. (South American language spoken) - Well, completely natural, this is after we drink the grain of water, you put the red ants on top.

Wow, all natural dish, no seasoning, it's just the ants, that

lemongrass

like pop. Oh, I think I felt that ant. - You have like the crunch of the grain that has been soaked in the water and then that vitality of the ants, the ants have such a powerful flavor. - It's called chebe, the grain is called chebe. Chase it down with some guarana. That only tastes healthy. And you also have these little corn chips that taste like dehydrated hominy. (chopped) - This is one of the fish par excellence of this area of ​​the Amazon. It is such a meaty fish, this fish is famous because it has ribs, literally like ribs. (She spoke in the South American language) She boiled a soup from the river, just outside her house.

She boils it, it seems with some chiles, some onions and it's quite good. (general chat) - They're actually just eating this and they offered me a bite. Mmmm. - Bom huh? - Bom, bom. Oh yes, that's wonderful, the plantain is more like plantain, it's not sweet and then it's like a pure fish, fish broth, salty fish broth. Oh yeah, mmmm. Obliged. That's great. Like simple, simple. Banana or plantain fish broth. (tribal drums) (South American language spoken) - And they put it on a very hot fire, the flame is burning and yes, it is a beautiful, beautiful fish, it is a good size, it is a family fish. - One more drink that you just made, this is the fermented cassava or cassava I think.

Oh wow, that's bitter, with a slightly alcoholic taste, but only slightly fermented I think. Hmm, that's good. -Yeah, I'm sure they cut slits in the fish and this is a very local fish from the river, like right outside her house, probably. Xaniqi, the name of the fish. I have to try some of this, maybe dip it in the soup. Ohh, that's wonderful, the fish is quite salty. Really smooth in texture, really oily taste. She just put some cassava on my plate. Oh, to eat with the soup too? The fish is excellent. It's like simple, like natural flavor, it's natural.

It's great, like the creamy yucca, the fish broth. Wow, the fish is ready, wow. (island music) (general chatter) - And no seasoning. Tasty? - Tasty. - That's how I would eat it, you just take a little of the fish, a little of the Tambaquil, the grilled fish that is ready. She put some on her plate and then mixed in a handful of cassava and is adding a little more now. You can mix it with the fish and eat it as is. No extra seasoning, just plain. The cassava, the fish, I'm going to make a dish right now. (laughs) - Tambaquil. (South American language spoken) - Those are the ribs right there.

I got some fish mixed in with that cassava. And you can see that these are the ribs of the fish. Everyone is grabbing and everyone is just family here it's amazing and everyone is sharing the community, the cultural community of sharing food and enjoying it as a family, this is fantastic. Hmm, that's really good. Only the pure, like all food, is so pure. No added additives, nothing added, just the ingredients straight, the ingredients straight, it's like two or three ingredients mixed together. Of the juices, the fish, the cassava powder, the freshly boiled fish with some onions.

This Amazonian food only focuses on the natural ingredients from here. Having said that, all the simplicity and all the similar natural ingredients, we bought some chillies and brought back some chillies, so it would go really well with the fish. This is something from Manaus, this is chile from Manaus. (Father speaking in South American language) - Tucupi. - Oh, here is tucupi, who is turning orange. A little bit of this and I'm going to try these ribs. If you get an actual rack of these ribs, it might actually look like spare ribs from this fish. This is a smaller shelf.

Oh that's amazing. The fish itself is exceptional, so oily, it's like a pure flavored fish, like nothing fishy and so many, and then yeah, hardly any bones, just the ribs. Check it out. Yeah, look at those ribs. I eat these huge clean bones and that's it and the rest is like pure meat. (general chatter) That's just wonderful and then with that chili sauce it's a bitsour and just like the vibrancy, it's not very spicy but it has a vibrancy of chili flavor, that sour taste, the vapors. - Have you noticed that they don't eat rice, it's just flour. - Cassava. - Cassava flour. - Oh, this is fresh off the grill, this is the other half.

Back to my pumpkin, you can see how oily that fish is. He also likes chili. Yes ok. - Tucupi. - Tucupi, tucupi chili sauce. This is just a beautiful fragrant, fruity, fruity. Smash this up, try a piece of cassava. Oh yes, the cassava is so good, yes. And I believe that this is where the cassava originates from, it is native to here. Oh sure you will find the best cassava in the world here, almost all starches are cassava. In different shape and form. - If you can hear, I'm not sure if you can hear in the background, but literally like on the river, just a hundred meters away there is a party, a party boat going down, you can even hear the music from here, but this is just a amazing humble family town and this is the amazing thing about this experience is that we came here unplanned, we didn't even announce it, we didn't even know what we were going to do but, so this is completely the way they would eat.

As if nothing extra was added it's exactly the way they would eat and the food the flavors are not complex it's just the land the food the abundance of the Amazon where the ingredients are the highlight and then just This special time to hang out and eat with the family is spectacular, it's incredible. This has turned into something beautiful. (shouts and trumpet sounds) (South American language spoken) (drumroll) - Ah, they're going to do a little performance for us, I'm not sure where they usually do their performance. Oh the monkey! (drums and singing begin) - That was beautiful and I love how, this is not a remote town, they are literally about a kilometer from the city and again you can hear the boats, the party boats, but what's the matter? amazing this town It's that they are preserving their cultural traditions and I was asking them about painting their bodies and they do it from time to time, it lasts about 15 days and they, it's a ritual, it's religious, it's cultural.

But it's cool to see them like, I mean, even one of the girls has braces, so I mean it's not a remote town, but it's cool how they're preserving their traditions and their culture here. (General chatter and laughter) They surprised us with a turtle, I'm not sure-- (laughs) Now he gave it to me, so I'm carrying a turtle, oh, it's to show Mika. Tortoise. (chatters and laughter) (playful shouts from the football game) - Many years have passed, but now it's time in the Amazon, this is great, on the sand court. (island music) (chat and cheers) (laughter) Totally lost right now, I'm so tired, just drenched in sweat, the kids here are amazing, they're so cool, they're so friendly.

Look at the way they're playing Mika now after the match. They are amazing, they are also very kind to us. (water comes out of the bottle) (general chatter) - Some guarana, natural, this is an

energy

drink, yes. Ahhh, oh, that's what I need. The monkey is drinking from the same gourd. - That tastes amazing. - There are still some ants floating around too. This is the next one, the other one. Mmm, yes, a bit bitter, it tastes amazing, with cassava chips here. (laughter and splashes of water) - Dude, they're fast too, yeah. (loud splashing and kids talking) - A post-football bath, kids are awesome.

They are literally climbing all over the pole... Here it comes. (boy calling) (loud splash) I'm definitely not brave enough for the tree but I have to go in, whoo. (loud splashes) - Hit the bottom? - Yes, I hit rock bottom right away, I'm on my feet right now. - Oh man, that water feels amazing. (loud splash) Wow! (loud splash) Oh wow, that's so refreshing, that's so amazing, this is beautiful (laughter) They have so much

energy

. Dude, they're like outdoing us at everything. Oh man, you need to be a little careful with the piranhas in this water, seriously.

There aren't any here, but around this area they are defini-- - (distant) On the other side of the river-- - Oh, on the other side of the river there are piranhas, so on this side of the river we're kind of safe swimming. (loud splash) You are champions, you are champions. Well. - This is so beautiful, the family is incredible, the tranquility of this town and I have to be honest with you when we left today, honestly, we did not have a complete plan, we were just going to try to find a town. , come to know the Amazonian culture and it has just become something spectacular.

One of the most memorable days I've had on this trip to Brazil. And if you think the food was great, it was a learning experience, the

drinks

were fascinating, but it was the people, the family, the father and mother, all the children, that made it. just to the next level. That made it such a memorable experience, so special, so privileged. Again, thanks to this family, thanks to Guilherme and Raffaela, I'll have their links in the description box below and oh yeah, and if you haven't seen this whole Brazil food and travel series yet, I'll have the link for the list. full play in the description box below so go watch all the videos and i will say goodbye to Manaus, from the heart of the

amazon

jungle and i want to say thank you for watching this video please remember to like it if you like it you enjoyed, leave a comment below.

I'd love to hear from you and if you're not subscribed yet, click subscribe now and also click the bell icon so you'll be notified of the next video I post. Thanks again for looking, bye from Manaus. See you in the next video.