Rapadura

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rapadura is the Portuguese name for a traditional candy common in Latin American countries such as Brazil and Venezuela (where it is known as papelón) and the Caribbean. It is essentially pure dried sugarcane juice, in the form of a brick, and is largely produced on site at sugarcane plantations in the very warm tropical regions. It was originally created as an easier way to transport sugar. In Venezuela it is an essential ingredient for many typical recipes, and in some parts of the country, its use displaces refined sugar as a more accessible, cheaper and healthier sweetener.

Other ingredients may be included in its preparation, such as peanuts, condensed milk, coconut, or white sugar.

Rapadura is very rich in dietary iron.

[edit] Controversy

Despite the fact that rapadura is a very old foodstuff, predating even the colonisation of Brazil, a German company called Rapunzel has registered the name as a trade mark, an event that has greatly angered Brazilians , as they see the name as a generic all-purpose word, like "lemonade" or "sandwich". Given the fact that there is a precedent (when Japanese Asahi Foods registered the name of the Brazilian fruit Cupuaçu as a trade mark) the Brazilian government is taking measures to prevent what it understands as "theft" of the Brazilian identity by "pirate" entrepreneurs (the term has not been used yet by the government but is commonplace even in the most moderate press, like Jornal do Brasil). Such measures will include previous registration of brands that ten years ago no one would consider registering, like "feijoada", "jabuticaba" or "churrasco". Some Brazilian individuals and companies are also trying to fight back by registering brands from the "offending" countries, like Sake and Shoyu (from Japan) or Sauerkraut (from Germany) in order to show the absurdity of accepting trade marks so generic.