Pamonha

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A wrapped pamonha.

An unwrapped pamonha.

Pamonha (pron IPA: [paˈmoɲɐ]) is a traditional Brazilian food. It is a paste made from corn and milk, boiled wrapped in corn husk.Variations may include other ingredients, such as coconut milk. Pamonhas can be salty or sweet. Most states in northeastern Brazil serve it as a sweet dessert, though.

It is associated with Festa Junina celebrations.

Roadside restaurants specializing in pamonha and other corn dishes can be found in southeastern Brazil.

The name pamonha comes from the tupi word pa'muña, and means "sticky".

1 In Popular Culture
2 Other Meanings
3 See also
4 References

[edit] In Popular Culture

Pamonhas are usually associated with the city of Piracicaba. Reportedly, it is where the best pamonhas are made. In the 1990s, it was common to hear peddlers driving slowly through São Paulo in cars equipped with loudspeakers, playing the exact same recording:

Pamonhas, pamonhas
Pamonhas de Piracicaba
Venha provar, é uma delícia!
É o puro creme do milho verde!
Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas!

Pamonhas, pamonhas
Pamonhas from Piracicaba
Come taste it, it's delicious!
Pure green corn cream!
Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas!

An alternative 'extended version' of the pamonha chant is shown below:

Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas
São as deliciosas pamonhas de Piracicaba
Pamonhas fresquinhas, pamonhas caseiras
Feitas com o puro creme do milho verde!
Temos curau, pamonhas e bolo de milho
Venha provar minha senhora, é uma delícia!
Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas!

Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas
It's the delicious pamonha of Piracicaba
Really fresh home-made pamonhas
Made with pure sweetcorn cream!
We have curau, pamonhas and corn cake
Come and try them, ma'am, they're delicious.
Pamonhas, pamonhas, pamonhas!

The peddlers have since disappeared, but the chant is now part of popular culture.