- Brigadeiro, also known as "Negrinho", was created in the decade of 1940 in Brazil and it is the most popular "sweet" served in almost every birthday party.
- The original brigadeiro was made with condensed milk, powdered chocolate and butter. From that original recipe, a huge number of different types of brigadeiros were created. Nowadays, you can probably find over 30 different flavors and shapes of brigadeiros.
- The most popular types are the actual "Brigadeiro" (made with chocolate), the White Brigadeiro (made with no chocolate), "Bem-Casado" (which is a combination of the brigadeiro and the white brigadeiro), "Beijinho" (made with shaved coconut) and "Cajuzinho" (made with peanuts).
- The word Brigadeiro can also mean an "army rank" also known as Brigadeiro-General (or in English Brigadier-General).
- It was named after "Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes", a brazilian army soldier who in 1946 decided to run for President. During his campaign, it is said that a woman named Heloisa Nabuco created the sweet to raise funds for his candidacy, naming it after her "favorite candidate". In case you were wondering, he did not get ellected.
- It is estimated that a person eats an average of 6 to 10 brigadeiros per event!
- Not only brigadeiros can have different flavors and shapes, but they can also be eaten out of a bowl with a spoon during a more casual gathering at home with friends.
The most fancy types of brigadeiros have made it to events such as weddings, Bat-Mitzvahs, baby and briday showers, Sweet-Sixteens... just to name a few. They are usually displayed in beautiful trays with flower arrangements or anything the imagination could ask for.
