Indian Groceries at Sao Paulo

Hi ,

I am planning to bring daals,rice etc .Can anyone tell me if customs at airport will allow it ? Also would be good if someone can tell what all items I can bring with me .

Regards
Ayaz

Hi Ayaz,

I don't know what daals is, but rice will certainly be prohibited since it is grown here. Most food products are really risky to try go bring into the country and will end up being confiscated more often than not, especially if the officer can't really tell (or doesn't know) what they are. I'd recommend not bringing foods. Also trying to bring in foods that are prohibited might get the officer thinking that just maybe you're also bringing in other things you shouldn't even when you're not and that can be a real nightmare.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team

ya why not u take with u in ur beg no proglm all masala and dalls, and rice have here so good so dntwry about rice

plus.google.com/107763848755756000380/about?gl=in&hl=en
Please visit this place,
I have been to this place today with my wife as suggested by someone and I could find almost all the spices which are necessary for daily usage in this place.I could also find most regular types of lentils too ( Daal)

Hi

I dont think they have any indian store in Brazil.
All spices need to get from India.
There are few restaurants in Sao Paulo.

Regards

Muthukumar

Actually most of the spices are available in São Paulo at the Mercado Central. Also there are a number of Indian restaurants and shops in downtown São Paulo, I'm pretty sure you can buy the spices in one of the shops nearby. They are just off Rua Agusta in Consolação.

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team

Dear Ayaz,
Let me know how about your experience and did you find any help in finding Indian Grocery in Brazil.

I am Indian and expected to coming and working in Brazil in next few months, location Camacari. I am Mechanical Engineer and working with Italian MNC.

I am vegetarian and did not eat any kind of meet. So I would like to know more about your experience this will help me out in planning my trip in advance.

Furthermore please let me know more about the life in Brazil and your feeling, and if some information to share would be a great advance for me.

Thanks in advance and best regards
Manish
[email protected]

Hi Ayaz,

I have yet not arrived SP. But in my search i got this address that will serve the purpose for fellow south asians. Below is the address, I hope you can locate the store and also share with other.
Bombay Herbs & Spices
Grocery shop specialising in herbs and spices. Located at Alameda Min. Rocha Azevedo, 856, Jardins.
web site: bombayfoodservice.com.br/

Guys,

Share this website tha is very informative of things in SP, like shopping, housing, and all other stuff.

saopaulo.angloinfo.com/af/431/sao-paulo-apartments-and-houses-for-rent.html

Hello amaj2001,

Thanks so much for posting the website

http://www.bombayherbsspices.com.br/

It is wonderful, people it lists under "Pontos de Venda" all their stores and re-sellers all over Brazil. Super helpful information, wonderful products and terrific recipies too. I'm now going to try my hand at cooking Indian cuisine.....yipeeeee!!!

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil & Canada Expert, Expat-blog Team

Hi William,

I want to know some information about Brasilia.

Let me know how about your experience and did you find any help in finding Indian Grocery in Brasilia.

I am Indian and expected to coming and working in Brazil in next few months, location Brasilia.

I am vegetarian and did not eat any kind of meat. So I would like to know more about your experience this will help me out in planning my trip in advance.

Furthermore please let me know more about the life in Brazil and your feeling, and if some information to share would be a great advance for me.

Thanks in advance and best regards
Gaurav

Given that Brasília is the national capital, I would assume that like most large Brazilian cities it does have a fair sized Indian population. It would therefore stand to reason that there will be a few good Indian restaurants there to, which would be buying local and imported products to prepare the meals on their menus. I don't think you're going to have a great deal of difficulty there finding whatever you need in the way of foods, condiments and spices.

Traditionally in most cities the Central Market is generally a good place to start one's search. There are probably also some specialty shops in Brasília too. I haven't any personal contacts in Brasília, but I'm sure if you drop into any one of the Indian Restaurants in the city the staff will be glad to tell you where you can find everything you're looking for.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

HI,

Read you post about your arrival to brasil. And your eating life style is vegetarian. Could you please also let me know which part of india you belong as veg styles differ.
My present experience say that, being veg and having veg food is ok. In brazil if you visit restaurants you have buffet type hotels, where you can choose what you would like to eat. But that is still a task as you have to ask people and the language is a big barrier unless you find guys who speak english.

Second they say you find indian spices at this shop or other. I request you to get all the spices and Dals with you when coming. Bring lot of chilly powder, Jeera, and others making a list. Pickles are must.

You keep posting your doubts and how to go about. You will be helped.

Kind regards
Amaj

Since they have an annual Indian Food Festival in Brasília it would stand to reason that everything you're going to need should be readily available there. It's just a matter of asking someone in the local Indian community where to find it.

Thanks william and amaz for your reply.
I am not able to find any indian grocery store online.
please send me any links , if you know

gaurav

Man, I wrote a big post asking few things from your side. Things will become more clear if you reply or provide answers to our queries.
What will you do if 1 kg of toor dal cost you 1000 rupees. are you happy buying it online.

I am trying to help you and make you understand what you need.
Just Indian grocery will not serve your needs.

Kind regards

Anyways you intend to visit the grocery store online

Please visit this site bombayherbsspices.com.br/

I was able to visit and open the page and hope you also will be able doing it.

regards
Amajd

Hi Amaj,
Thanks for your replies. I am from North India and my family (wife and daughter) are also planning to come with me.
Yes I can bring lot of spices with me but I think we need wheat flour regularly to have a food there.

I am not intending to buy things online. I was trying to find if I can get any indian store information which can help me.

Gaurav Seth

Hi Guarav Seth,

Be extremely careful about trying to bring agricultural products into Brazil that are grown here. Wheat flour, corn, corn flour, fruits, vegetables and spices that are actually grown in Brazil will be confiscated at immigrations and customs upon arrival since the represent a significant hazard to domestic crops. This is prohibited  in almost every nation on earth and taken very seriously. Meat products and fish will also be confiscated by officials here, trying to hide things in your luggage will have serious consequences if you're caught and the chances are you will be.

The only things that you can bring into Brazil without lots of hassles are things that aren't grown here or packaged prepared foods like pickles, condiments, etc. It's not worth the effort to pack all kinds of extra weight into your luggage, carry it all the way to Brazil only to have it confiscated and thrown into the garbage bins at customs and immigrations, trust me.

Just think about how difficult it was for you to obtain your VISA to enter Brazil, would you risk being put right back on the plane you arrived in because of some prohibited agricultural product you were bringing with you? That is something that, while not common, isn't a rare event either.

Almost anything you want in the way of Indian foods can be found in Brazil if you spend a bit of time looking for it.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

No problems,

You get wheat flour here. The one which is labeled integral is the wheat flour what we use in india. Get a huge amount of toor dal (arhar dal) you dont get here. No moong dal, but you will get the red one ( i dont remember the name).
Get pickles, Tea ( man you need to get this one).
Try to take flights that allow more luggage. I came in qatar allowed 32 kg of 2 baggages = 64 Kg.

Kind regards
Amj

I agree to Woodwards, things which are not processed and packed should be avoided. Any meat and dairy no go. Spices should be OK. Daal is risky but you can declare them and show to customs. In this way they may simply allow it but if u don't declare they may put fine due to miss declarations if found during checking. Although they rarely check but the rule is rule

Thanks for your advice
If I bring some daal , should I declare it at indian custom only ?
It will be grt , if anyone advice about the international schools at Brasilia. My daughter age is 4 yrs.

Thanks,
Gaurav

No, you must declare what you are BRINGING into the country at Customs & Immigrations in Brazil.

Hi
I am coming to Barueri in Brazil.
is there any Indian grocery shops in that area ?