It is the first time that the international organization’s committee recognizes a Brazilian gastronomic food.
Minas Artisan Cheese was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in a ceremony that took place this Wednesday morning, the 4th, in Asunción, Paraguay. It is the first time that the international organization’s committee has granted recognition to a Brazilian gastronomic product.
“The ‘Ways of Making Minas Artesanal Cheese’ symbolize the rich cultural diversity and traditional knowledge of Brazil, which connects generations and strengthens the identity of local communities. The inclusion of the ‘Ways of Making Minas Artisanal Cheese’ in the UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage”Cultural heritage also represents a recognition of its importance for economic, inclusive and sustainable development”, says the director and representative of UNESCO in Brazil, Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto.
In recent weeks, the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, has commented on the importance of this vote, which demonstrates the “strength of this very important and symbolic expression” on the “Methods of Production of Minas Artesanal Cheese”.
“Brazilian flavors are one of our many riches. Making cheese, culturally, brings with it the characteristics of a territory and its people”, stated the minister.
Minas Artesanal Cheese is produced using techniques developed over three centuries and is part of an important socioeconomic activity that promotes inclusion and local development, in particular family farming.
The artisanal production of Minas cheese became the heritage of Minas Gerais in 2002 and, in 2008, also obtained national recognition from Iphan.
In an interview with O Globo newspaper, Iphan president Leandro Grass called Wednesday’s title a “historic moment for Brazilian culture.” “In addition to the product, the technique, we value the people, the small cheese producers. Cultural policy is an element for its conservation and valorization, but we need other policies”, he celebrated.
“The candidacy also strengthens the commitment to sustainable development, to socio-environmental preservation, because these producers depend on clean water, the quality of animals and a balanced environment”, he added.
With the recognition, the Iphan president said the next steps will be taken to increase the value of the food. “The proposal for recognition aims to give international visibility to this national cultural heritage, which has been a tradition for more than three centuries not only in Minas Gerais, but throughout Brazil.”
“Cheese is one of the most important things in Minas, in the past it was the way to preserve milk. This artisanal method must be protected,” commented Antônio de Salvo, president of the MG Agrobusiness Federation, in an interview with the newspaper.
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Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.