the meal is a heavy one, typically eaten on saturday or sunday - no matter what the season, the dish can be found in rio de janeiro every friday and over the weekend in many retaurants across town.

feijoada can be made with black, red or white beans - these are all varieties that derive from the first beans grown in peru that were spread throughout central and south america by migrating indian tribes.

beans were introduced to europe in the fifteenth century, by spanish explorers returning from their expeditions to the new world - the legumes were later carried by spanish and portuguese traders to parts of asia and africa.