Nayara Lark, a Brazilian baker, has brought a taste of her home country to the Como Park Farmers’ Market with her business, The Sweet Brazilian. Lark began baking seriously in 2017, taking classes in Brazil to help herself handle the grief of her mother’s death. After moving to the United States in 2019, she started baking for friends’ parties and weddings, which eventually led to her friends ordering more of her sweets.

The Sweet Brazilian

Lark’s table at the farmers’ market is filled with traditional Brazilian sweets like brigadeiros, carrot cake donuts, and cookies. Her business has become a site of nostalgia for local Brazilians and a discovery for other customers. Customer Ruth DeYoe, whose mother was Brazilian, said, ‘This is instant Brazil.’ DeYoe has tasted almost everything that Lark offers and refers to them as her ‘level-up Brazilian sweets.’

Lark’s recipe for brigadeiros is distinctive, and she always sells them in the traditional chocolate form, offering a flavor of the week. She has also invented a recipe for Brazilian carrot cake donuts, which has become a favorite among customers. Lark said she finds it meaningful to share her culture with her neighbors, calling her desserts ‘a little sweet piece of Brazil.’

Como Park Farmers’ Market

The Sweet Brazilian made its debut at the Como Park Farmers’ Market last month, and Lark’s booth has filled a niche in the market. The St. Paul Growers’ Association admitted 18 new vendors into the city’s farmers markets this year, and Lark’s business was one of them. The market is open every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. during the summer, except during the State Fair.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.