cariocas are true meat lovers, evidenced by their penchant for barbecues and steak-houses - chicken however, is their beloved staple, prepared in a plethora of ways: grilled or fried, in pies, pastries, and traditional stews.

the history of raising chickens is long and rich, and dates back to asian civilisations where they would domesticate the birds for fighting and ornamentation - only in the late 19th century did chickens' eggs and meat begin to be used for consumption.

the portuguese first introduced chickens to brazil in the early 20th century and early aviculture in the country was known as frango caipira, meaning 'rustic chicken' - this type of rearing tended to be small-scale, largely for the personal provision of meat and eggs. 

only in the second half of the 20th century did companies start technologically advancing aviculture, to create bigger and better quality yields - today, brazil is the largest exporter of chicken meat in the world, producing some of the finest and healthiest cuts across.