Terra Brazil at 709 N. El Camino Real, across from CVS Pharmacy, sells Brazilian food products plus beachwear and an apparel line. One can reach Terra Brazil via a nice walk through downtown or if driving, a parking lot in back is a bonus. Husband and wife owners Antonio Ricardo Demoraes and Andreia Casarine opened the unique store in September of 2019. During Covid, due to people cooking at home, they had their best year. An essential shopping destination during the pandemic is also essential now for Brazilian natives. 

Seventy-five to eighty-five percent of their regular customers are from Brazil or related to the Brazilian culture somehow. Since the closest Brazilian stores are in Los Angeles, shoppers come from Irvine, Newport, Anaheim, and Oceanside. Fittingly, a couple from Oceanside made their first visit to the store and were thrilled to find a variety of Brazilian products and clothing. Stocking up on sodas plus hoodies and tees for the family was a treat for them.

Their food is imported directly from Brazil including the best brands and pre-packaged products. The cuisine choices might be unusual to a San Clemente local, but to a Brazilian, it brings back the taste of home.

If one is curious about Brazilian food, Ricardo or Andreia will gladly give a tour of a wide array of Brazilian groceries and food items. There’s fresh Picanha Brazilian meat cut, great for barbecues, and also in the frozen section one will find Feijoada, a stew of black beans mixed with various meats. Brazilian cheese bread made from yucca flour will easily complete a meal preparation. All along the shelves are a variety of goods including sodas made with fruit from the Amazon rain forest, called Guarana, along with jarred Malagueta chili peppers, Tapioca (type of yucca), guava paste, and Chimarrão, a highly caffeinated social drink similar to tea but much more potent. Desserts include açai, Dulce de Leche Caramel Sauce, Ambrosia, chocolate candies, and chocolate powder called Toddy or Nescau. 

The Brasil Surf Cali portion of the store includes apparel and accessories. The beach vibe comes from Ricardo’s love of surfing. “The energy on a wave keeps me in balance,” he says. As a graphic designer, he designed all the hats and clothing even the ‘surf dude’ baby bodysuits in the store. The Brazilian beachwear includes colorful bikinis and flipflops. 

Ricardo and Andreia are United States citizens and long-time California residents. Ricardo has lived here for 34 years. They live in Laguna Niguel with their kids, Luma, age 15, and Kauan, age 9. Luma attends San Clemente High School and is on the wrestling team and choir. Ricardo’s love of California is evident in the design of his tee-shirt depicting the California bear with a Brazilian flag on its front and the American flag on its rear. Originally from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the family just returned from a vacation in their homeland.