Light, delicious and unapologetically Brazilian, pão de queijo, or cheese bread, brings the carnival spirit to your home kitchen. Join us as we introduce you to the delights of cheese bread and learn where you can buy this delicious snack.
What is Brazilian Cheese Bread?
Cheese bread – pão de queijo – is one of Brazil’s most favoured staples and has become extremely popular throughout South America. The main ingredient is tapioca flour, meaning it is naturally gluten-free!
The recipe originated in the state of Minas Gerais and is attributed to slaves who worked in the region from the 1700s onwards. Due to the unavailability of other flour, they used flour obtained from manioc (tapioca) to make bread. Sometime in the 1800s, grated cheese and milk were added to the recipe and a legendary Brazilian dish was born. The popularity of the dish spread and nowadays, no matter where you go in South America, you will encounter a variant of Brazilian cheese bread. Very similar cheese bread can be found in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.
Though often enjoyed as part of a wholesome breakfast, Brazilian cheese bread can be prepared and eaten at any time of the day.
Introduction to Cheesebuddy’s Brazilian Cheese Bread
Located in Perth, Cheesebuddy is an Australian company with deep Brazilian roots stretching back to the 1800s. The team behind Cheesebuddy emigrated from Brazil to Australia, bringing the recipe for the popular dish with us.
When we launched Cheesebuddy in 2009, we wanted to share one of our favourite things about Brazil with our Australian family and friends and, since then, we’ve been humbled to see Australians from Perth to Sydney embrace this delicious treat and include it in their diets.
We produce three delicious cheese bread varieties that you can freeze and defrost to eat whenever you like:- parmesan and cheddar, cheese and garlic, and chilli. Our product range focuses on quality, with our cheese breads forming the basis of many delicious recipes, from cheesy bruschetta to stacked sandwiches.
Our reviews and testimonials speak for themselves and we are proud to serve so many delighted customers who enjoy a classic taste of Brazil right here in Australia.
Understanding Gluten
Tapioca flour, the key ingredient in our Brazilian cheese bread, is naturally gluten-free. But what exactly is gluten? It’s a protein found in wheat, some grains, barley and rye. Sometimes, gluten is added to foods as a thickening agent because it can improve texture and flavour.
Some of the most common sources of gluten that you will find at the supermarket include:
Bread: Buns, bagels, sliced bread, tortillas.
Baked goods: Cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins.
Pasta: Wheat-based pasta like spaghetti and lasagne.
Cereals: Many breakfast cereals and the majority of oats.
Crackers: Biscuits, crackers, pretzels and some chips.
Beer and some liquors.
Gravy: Powdered gravies and those in ready-to-eat meals.
Soup: Canned soups that use gluten as a thickening agent.
For most people, gluten, eaten in moderation, doesn’t have many negative side effects,but when consumed in excess, gluten can trigger unpleasant side effects like excessive gas or autoimmune issues.
However, people with coeliac disease must avoid gluten, as it negatively affects their digestive system’s ability to absorb key nutrients and minerals in food. As a result, coeliac disease can lead to conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis. If you suspect that you have a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease, you should seek a diagnosis from a medical professional. A doctor will also advise you on the foods you should avoid to improve your symptoms.
Gluten-Free Diets and Their Benefits
If you’re a coeliac or have any symptoms that are triggered by gluten, following a gluten-free diet can improve your health. After a short space of time, you may notice an improvement in your digestion and increased energy levels. You may feel ‘lighter’ and suffer less bloating and discomfort. A gluten-free diet often means eating more fresh fruit, vegetables and protein. This ‘less processed’ diet has been proven to be beneficial.
But not everyone needs to follow a gluten-free diet: a misconception is that gluten itself is bad for you, which isn’t necessarily the case. However, avoiding excessive amounts of processed foods containing gluten, such as white bread, white pasta and sugar-rich cereals, can have an overall positive impact on your health, whether you are gluten-sensitive or not.
Ingredients in Cheesebuddy’s Brazilian Cheese Bread
As mentioned, our pão de queijo is naturally gluten-free, making it a brilliant option for coeliacs and anyone with a gluten intolerance. Here’s a run-through of the key ingredients in our parmesan and cheddar Brazilian bread to give you an example:
Water
Tapioca flour
Cheese (milk) [parmesan and cheddar cheese]
Canola oil
Modified tapioca starch
Milk powder
Egg powder
Salt
Natural cheese flavour
In creating Australia’s best pão de queijo, we source only the finest ingredients and carry out stringent product testing to ensure their quality. No gluten is detected in any of our tests, ensuring that our Brazilian bread is perfectly safe for coeliacs and those where gluten is contra-indicated.
Gluten-Free Certification
In Australia, gluten-free accreditation can be obtained from Coeliac Australia. This registered charity is the gold standard for gluten-free products across the country and we’re proud that Cheesebuddy’s Brazilian bread has attained this gluten-free accreditation. Therefore, you can buy our cheese breads with confidence knowing that they are 100% gluten-free and safe for anyone with gluten intolerance.
Where to Buy Cheesebuddy’s Brazilian Cheese Bread
Are you ready to sample the most delicious gluten-free snack that Brazil has to offer? The great news is that you can buy Cheesebuddy’s Brazilian cheese bread from numerous locations. You can find us at retailers like Costco, Woolworths, IGA, Coles, Farmer Jack’s and Uber Eats. You will find our cheese breads in hundreds of stores nationwide, so you can stock up on your favourite flavour with ease.
If you’re keen to buy our cheese bread in bulk or in larger quantities than you can find at your local grocery store, be sure to get in touch via our distributor page for more details.
Purchase Cheesebuddy’s Pão de queijo
Pão de queijo is one of Brazil’s most delectable dishes and it’s now available right here in Australia. You can transform your breakfast with a Cheesebuddy sandwich or serve them up at a fancy dinner party to WOW your nearest and dearest.
Discover the deliciousness of Cheesebuddy’s gluten-free Brazilian cheese bread today. Order now and enjoy a taste of Brazil, made right here in Australia.