Catupiry

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Catupiry (IPA: /kɑtu'pɪɹɪ/) is the common way of referring to a very popular "cream cheese" in Brazil manufactured by Catupiry, which manufactures a number of products of which the cream cheese is the most famous. Note that this "cream cheese" bears little relation to what Americans call cream cheese (i.e. by Philadelphia), and has an appearance and texture very similar to that of mashed potatoes. In Portuguese, 'cream cheese' is "requeijão", but in Brazil, the name "Catupiry" has become synonymous with the product. It does not have a particularly strong flavour. The name comes from the Tupi-Guarani language of a group of Indian tribes and means "excellent".

It is commonly used as a filling (together with shredded chicken) in the ubiquitous coxinhas at snack bars, used as an element in main dishes, or sometimes as an extra topping on pizza. Some pizza places in southeastern Brazil also offer Catupiry-filled borders.