Brazilians in Portugal: transmissions, receptions and food transformations

• Published in: Horizontes antropológicos 2010-01, Vol.16 (33), p.197-224
• Main Author: Braga, Isabel M.R. Mendes Drumond
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: 21st century; Brazil; Cultural contact; Diet; Dietary change; Illegal immigration; Immigrants; Immigration; Portugal; Trade
• ISSN: 0104-7183
• DOI: 10.1590/S0104-71832010000100011

From 1993 onwards the net migratory balance in Portugal has become positive and on the rise. In 1997 there were 175,263 people living in Portugal with a residence permit as well as illegal immigrants, whose number was unknown. However it was estimated that the immigrants' percentage amounted slightly over 2% as far as the total resident population in Portugal is concerned. 11.4% of the immigrants came from Brazil. More recent official data and still provisional, provided by the Foreign Border Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras), regarding 2007, account for 435,736 legal immigrants. The Brazilian amount to 66,354, representing 15.2% of the total amount. It is known that the presence of a foreign community amounting to a significant number allows the emergence of both small shops of products that have not formerly existed in the host country, and parallel trade. We have tried to find out which Brazilian dietary changes have occurred in Portugal throughout the last years, by means of a survey involving a minimum of 200 Brazilian people. We wished to know their gender, age, State they came from, working activity, favourite Brazilian food, food products they used to eat in Brazil and cannot find in Portugal and, ultimately, where they can get them. The analysis of the data obtained in the survey, as well as the available information on the so-called ethnic restaurants allow us to study food habits of the Brazilian community in Portugal, namely the undergoing transmissions, receptions and dietary changes, which have impact on Portuguese and Brazilian, since cultural influences result from the interrelations among cultural groups in close contact. // ABSTRACT IN PORTUGUESE: Foi a partir de 1993 que o saldo migratório em Portugal passou a revelar-se positivo e em crescimento. Em 1997, viviam em Portugal 175.263 pessoas com autorização de residência, a que se juntavam imigrantes ilegais em número desconhecido, calculando-se em pouco mais de 2% a percentagem de imigrantes no cômputo total da população residente no país. 11,4% dos imigrantes eram oriundos do Brasil. Dados mais recentes e ainda provisórios, fornecidos pelo Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, relativos a 2007, dão conta de 435.736 imigrantes legais. Os brasileiros, num total de 66.354, representam 15,2% desse total. Sabendo-se que a presença de uma comunidade estrangeira numericamente significativa dá origem quer à abertura de pequenas lojas de produtos antes inexistentes no país de acolhi