''Manteiga-de-garrafa'' (butter-from-a-bottle) or ''manteiga-da-terra'' (butter of the land) are terms in northeastern Brazil to refer to a clarified butter product, similar to Indian ''

ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from ...

''. The product is also known as ''manteiga de gado'' (cattle butter) and ''manteiga de cozinha'' (kitchen butter). ''Manteiga de garrafa'' is a dairy product made from the

cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

of cows' milk. The cream is processed by physical agitation, as in a blender or beating by hand, followed by cooking at a temperature of to . Salt may also be added. Some recipes for making manteiga de garrafa include a step prior to cooking in which the congealed cream is washed in cold water. The cooking process separates the cream into two components, the manteiga (butter) and the "borra" (a watery precipitate). The manteiga is separated from the borra by filtration, and then placed in bottles. The finished product is almost pure fat, with a low water activity. Accordingly, it is inhospitable to microbial growth and can be kept at room temperature. Manteiga de garrafa is a yellow-orange, viscous liquid which may be opaque or semi-translucent. It is strongly flavored, with flavors of cheese, fish, rancidity, and barnyard composing part of the flavor profile. Manteiga de garrafa is a characteristic part of the cuisine of the northeast of Brazil, particularly the

Sertão The ''sertão'' (, plural ''sertões'') is the "hinterland" or "backcountry". In Brazil, it refers both to one of the four sub-regions of the Northeast Region of Brazil (similar to the specific association of " outback" with Australia in Englis ...

. In cooking, the product is used in much the same way as ordinary butter. The borra that is removed during processing is also eaten. It can be eaten with bread, or used as an ingredient in

farofa ''Farofa'' () is a type of meal made from toasted cassava. It is eaten mainly in Brazil. It can be found commercially produced and packaged but can also be prepared at home based on family recipes. Most recipes will also contain varying amou ...

, carne-de-sol, feijão verde, and in cooking fried eggs or

cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated ...

(macaxeira). Manteiga de garrafa is a product of artesanal or small-scale manufacturing, as well as home production, and its quality and flavor can be variable. There are no fixed manufacturing standards that must be met in order to call a product "manteiga de garrafa". The product is produced and distributed by means of street fairs, town markets, supermarkets, restaurants and small shops.

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