Brazilian beef cut peito can loosely translate as a specific cut of beef known as the brisket in the US; however, it does not completely correlate to the brisket as it is known in American or other cuisines. Peito comes from the chest or breast area of the animal and is a tough, heavily worked muscle.
It's known for its connective tissues and collagen, which require longer cooking times to become tender. Due to its composition, peito is often used for slow-cooking methods such as braising, roasting, or smoking. In Brazilian cuisine, peito is commonly used to make pastrami or carne de panela, which are slow-cooked and braised dishes that take advantage of the cut's natural flavors and the breakdown of connective tissues during cooking.