it is also one of the unifiers of rio's culture - everyone from the favela dweller to the mayor of the marvelous city drinks them, and every bar has their own special version.

those with less of a taste for alcohol would be well advised to seek out guaraná, a typically brazilian soda made from the native amazonian plant of the same name. the berry has about twice the caffeine as coffee, and cariocas swear by the curative and stimulant properties of the most popular brazilian soft drink.

traditional brazilian fruit juices - called sucos - are another popular choice of locals. made from everything from bananas to passion fruit, suco is freshly squeezed and served thick and unpasteurized.