Jabuticaba Index®

Categorizing Brazilian singularities. From the capybara to the precatório.

2026 edition · Methodology v0.2 · 26 items

The exclusive ranking of things found only in Brazil

Things that exist only in Brazil, or almost, ranked by the Jabuticaba Index®: from 0% (common worldwide) to 100% (exclusively Brazilian).

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    Precatórios

    When the State loses in court, it pays. Later. In a queue.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    100%, plausibility range 100% to 100%
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    Guaraná soda

    A soda made from an Amazonian fruit the world knows only as a supplement.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    97%, plausibility range 97% to 98%
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    NBR 14136 plug

    Makes Brazilians buy adapters to plug in older Brazilian appliances.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    95%, plausibility range 95% to 96%
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    Pão de queijo

    Cassava starch, cheese and egg. Abroad, sold as a gourmet novelty.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    94%, plausibility range 93% to 95%
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    Jabuticaba

    The fruit that names the index and grows stuck to the trunk.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    94%, plausibility range 94% to 94%
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    Paperless voting machine

    Fully electronic voting, with no paper to recount.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    94%, plausibility range 92% to 96%
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    Tax ID on receipts

    The question that ends every purchase in Brazil. Abroad, they ask if you want a bag.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    89%, plausibility range 89% to 89%
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    Window safety nets

    Every window with a cat or kid gets a net. Elsewhere, people trust gravity.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    89%, plausibility range 88% to 90%
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    Service elevator

    One elevator for residents, another for staff. The floor plan says it all.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    87%, plausibility range 84% to 89%
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    TSE

    Organiza, regulamenta e julga as eleições. Três funções em um só prédio.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    85%, plausibility range 85% to 85%
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    Priority line

    A separate line, guaranteed by law. Often longer than the regular one.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    84%, plausibility range 82% to 87%
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    Farmácia em cada esquina

    Duas farmácias por quarteirão, às vezes da mesma rede, uma de frente para a outra.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    80%, plausibility range 80% to 80%
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    Jeitinho brasileiro

    The art of bending rules with charm. It exists abroad under other names; Brazilians disagree.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    80%, plausibility range 76% to 83%
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    Caipirinha

    Exported to bars worldwide. In the index, exports count at half weight.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    77%, plausibility range 77% to 77%
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    Building doorman

    Receives packages, guards the door, knows everything about everyone.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    77%, plausibility range 77% to 77%
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    Feijoada

    The unofficial national dish, with close relatives across the Lusophone world.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    76%, plausibility range 76% to 76%
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    Electric shower

    Heats the water inches from the bather's head. Considered perfectly normal.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    71%, plausibility range 71% to 71%
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    Açaí bowl

    Açaí pulp blended cold with granola. In Pará they eat it differently.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    68%, plausibility range 68% to 68%
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    Capybara

    The world's largest rodent and, statistically, less Brazilian than you'd think.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    67%, plausibility range 64% to 70%
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    Vira-lata caramelo

    Patrimônio afetivo nacional, encontrado em qualquer lugar com cães soltos na rua.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    66%, plausibility range 63% to 70%
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    Horário eleitoral gratuito

    Rádio e TV param para exibir candidatos. A faixa de incerteza é, reconhecidamente, generosa.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    64%, plausibility range 42% to 100%
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    Mandatory voting

    Mandatory, with a symbolic fine. More common worldwide than you'd think.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    56%, plausibility range 55% to 56%
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    13th salary

    An extra month's pay at year's end. We regret to report Portugal pays fourteen.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    51%, plausibility range 51% to 51%
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    Carnival

    Brazil didn't invent Carnival, but took it far too seriously.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    38%, plausibility range 38% to 38%
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    Motoboy

    Sounds Brazilian, has an English name, exists across the developing world.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    31%, plausibility range 31% to 31%
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    Refrigerator (control group)

    Control group. Expected result: 0%. Actual result: 0%.

    Jabuticaba Index®
    0%, plausibility range 0% to 0%