Minas cheese was added to UNESCO’s global list of intangible cultural heritage on Wednesday (4). The inscription elevates the cheese’s profile internationally and helps protect the traditions that compose it.
The cheese, made from fresh cow’s milk, comes in the following forms: fresh, which resembles ricotta cheese, although with a different texture; semi-aged; and aged.
Production comes from the southeast of the state of Minas Gerais, a region with a population of 20 million and known for its mines and agriculture.
The state is the largest center for milk and cheese production in South America. However, Minas cheese is still widely produced by family-owned businesses on small farms.
They mix raw milk with ‘pingo’, a natural starter made up of bacteria typical of each region, according to Brazil’s file submitted to UNESCO, which, combined with “the maturation period and the climate of each location, contributes to the specific flavor, color, and aroma of the cheeses.”
The tradition of making Minas cheese began in the 18th century — when half of the gold used on the planet came from the mines of Minas Gerais, then under Portuguese control.
The Portuguese brought European techniques that were necessary to preserve food during long journeys within that vast Brazilian region. These techniques were then adapted locally and passed down orally through generations.
The addition of Minas cheese to the UNESCO intangible heritage list makes it the seventh cultural tradition of Brazil to be included. It stands alongside capoeira — the dance/martial art sport — and frevo, a traditional rhythm of the Recife carnival.
It is the first Brazilian food item to enter the UNESCO list.
Source: AFP