Manioc, a root vegetable, was a staple food of the Tupinambá people.[24][25][26] They cultivated different varieties of manioc, including sweet and bitter types.[27][28] The bitter manioc was processed to remove its toxic parts before consumption.[29][30] Other cultivated crops included beans, gourds, peanuts, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams.[31][32] The Tupinambá also supplemented their diet with fruits and honey.[33][34]
Some examples of foods they ate:
- Wild game such as tapirs, deer, peccaries, monkeys, and birds
- Fish such as pirarucu, tambaqui, and pacu
- Fruits such as açaí, guaraná, and pineapple
- Vegetables such as manioc, maize, and sweet potatoes
- Spices such as pepper and vanilla
The Tupinambá people also ate a variety of insects and other small animals, such as ants, termites, and frogs. They collected honey and wax from wild bees, and they made a fermented drink called _cauim_ from manioc or maize.