The traditional story of these delicious little Brazilian chocolate truffles, known as brigadeiros, has it all: a handsome political candidate, women’s suffrage, postwar rationing, and the culinary triumph of ingenuity over scarcity. It’s also probably wrong – at least as far as the origin of the candy is concerned, if not the name. While it is entirely true that the dessert was associated with the (failed) presidential candidacy of Air Force Brigadier Eduardo Gomes in 1946 (hence the origin of the name “Brigadeiros”), it is likely that these little sweets made from condensed milk, Butter and cocoa powders already existed and were only used for political advertising.
How cool is that anyway? Why make boring old buttons and posters of your favorite candidate when you can hand out little chocolate treats at meetings instead? When it comes to brigadeiros, it’s as worth taking a look at the history of its name and origins as eating one (or three – they’re damn tasty).
Read more: 8 candy bars that are completely different outside the US
Brigadeiros: Celebrating political eye candy
Immediately after the end of World War II, Brazil held presidential elections that were significant in another way: it was the first time that all women could vote in that country’s national elections. (Some women – widows, wage earners, and those who were married and had their husband’s permission – had been able to vote since 1932, but all gained the right in 1945.) Brigadier Gomes was a social reformer and presidential candidate for the progressive National Democratic Union party. Plus, as it turned out, he was single and not unattractive.
These additional qualities did not go unnoticed by the new group of women voters, whose native slogan “Vote no brigadeiro, que é bonito e é solteiro” (“Vote for the brigadier who is handsome and single”) was eventually adopted as a campaign slogan. To raise money for the campaign, female supporters in Rio de Janeiro sold bite-sized chocolate truffles at political rallies, which they called brigadeiros because her husband was clearly a real snacker. These were made from condensed milk, butter and cocoa powder – ingredients that were widely available despite ongoing wartime rationing. The treats were so popular that brigadeiros grew in popularity – even though Gomes lost the election – and are now considered a uniquely Brazilian dessert. The only problem is that this confection almost certainly predates the postwar election.
Negrinhos: The More Humble Origin Story
In 1890, the Nestlé Group brought its sweetened condensed milk Milkmaid to the Brazilian market. In 1921, the company opened its first domestic factory in the country and renamed the product Leite Moça (which is much prettier, but still just Portuguese for “condensed milk”). This type of preserved dairy products was a great success, as household refrigerators were not available in Brazil until 1947.
Different reports suggest that proto-Brigadeiro sweets were made as early as the 1920s either in São Paulo (where Leite Moça was combined with high-quality chocolate powder from the local Gardano factory) or in Rio Grande do Sul. It is referred to as “Negrinho” or “little black man” (and is still known by this name today). Such a popular treat is believed to have many origin stories; We all know that success has many fathers. Feel free to make your brigadeiros or negrinhos rolled with chocolate sprinkles, maybe even a cherry in it, and call them whatever you like.
Read the original Daily Meal article