Rio de Janeiro is a city with a lot of great food and some of the freshest food that you will find in the city is in its markets.

While reading about places to visit in Rio, I stumbled across a market called  Feira Livre da Glória (Gloria Street Market). Founded in 1994, the Gloria Street Market was created as an organic and cultural market. It is a wonderful place to go on a Sunday morning to taste some of the freshest fruits and vegetables in all of Rio, and if you love food as much as I do, you will certainly enjoy visiting.

Visiting the market is a great experience. As you make your way down the center of the market, vendors will offer all types of food for you to try, making it nearly impossible to walk through the market without trying at least one thing. .

What to eat at Feira Livre da Glória 

Atemóia (Atemoya) is a green fruit that grows in tropical climates. It is a hybrid fruit that is a mixture between a sugar-apple and a cherimoya. Due to the presence of potassium in the pulp, the atemóia fruit is said to assist in lowering blood pressure.

Papaya is known as one of the world’s healthiest foods. These spherical shaped fruits grow year-round and are a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and carotenes and provide protection against colon cancer and heart disease. They also promote digestive health and provide immune support.

Carambola (Star Fruit) is a five-angled green tropical fruit that is a native fruit of Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka, and today it is also grown in the tropical Brazilian climate. It gets its name from the star-like shape it takes on when it is cut into slices. The entire fruit (including the skin) is edible, and it makes a delicious snack.

Goiaba (English: Apple Guava) is a fruit that grows throughout Mexico, Central, and South America. It is known to help control cholesterol and is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and iron. Additionally, it has a number of other health benefits and it aids in the prevention of prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and it can help relieve diarrhea.

Mangoes are juicy nutritious fruits that are grown in many tropical climates near the equator. They are low in calories, are full of fiber, and they contain beneficial nutrients such as vitamin A and folic acid.

*Market Tip: Outside of Hawaii, Feira da Glória had THE BEST mangoes I have ever tasted in my life. Make sure to visit the guy with the tattoo on his left arm and the big knife.

Make sure you stop by one of the stands with Brazilian desserts – I had one of these delicious cookies and it blew me out of this world, simply amazing.

Throughout the entire market, you will find a number of tables that have where you can both buy and try peppers. I generally do not have good experiences with eating hot peppers, so I was hesitant to try any for the fear of facing excruciating pain, so I opted not to try any at the market. However, if you are a brave soul, you should totally go for it.

Foods to Take Home from Feira Livre da Glória 

In addition to having a number of foods that you can try right on the spot at the market, Feira Livre da Glória also sells a number of fresh fish and meats that you can buy and take home to cook.

If you find yourself in Rio de Janeiro, you should definitely make your way to the Feira Livre da Glória market!

---

Have you ever been to a market in Rio de Janeiro? Share your market stories and tips below!