Qarasiña Culinary Tradition: Conserving Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jach’a Puni (Andean Community), Bolivia

Bibliographic Details
Title: Qarasiña Culinary Tradition: Conserving Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jach’a Puni (Andean Community), Bolivia
Authors: Simón Cocarico, Diego Rivera, Stephan Beck, Concepción Obón
Source: Heritage, Vol 7, Iss 10, Pp 5390-5412 (2024)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Archaeology
Subject Terms: jupha, ajara, Andean food, kaswira, sustain life, ancient food, Archaeology, CC1-960
More Details: Heritage encompasses features integral to the culture of a particular society, such as traditional foods that have historical significance and continue to be part of the community’s identity. These culinary traditions must be preserved to sustain cultural identity and community well-being. This study aims to document the role of qarasiña, along with other ancestral foods, in establishing quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as a cultural keystone species in the Jach’a Puni community. Primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with local experts and community observations, supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. Findings reveal that in Jach’a Puni, all food is considered sacred. Three main types of qarasiña are identified: jupha qarasiña, ajara qarasiña, and kita qarasiña. The primary ingredients are domesticated quinoa (jupha) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. quinoa) and wild quinoa (ajara) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. melanospermum and C. hircinum). Qarasiña is integral to community banquets and social events. Although quinoa is celebrated globally as the “golden grain”, there is a risk that qarasiña may disappear and quinoa could be replaced by wheat or maize, threatening its status as a cornerstone species in the Bolivian Altiplano.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2571-9408
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/10/254; https://doaj.org/toc/2571-9408
DOI: 10.3390/heritage7100254
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/6632cfa8e9d64e8c8770f1db97e36b33
Accession Number: edsdoj.6632cfa8e9d64e8c8770f1db97e36b33
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:25719408
DOI:10.3390/heritage7100254
Published in:Heritage
Language:English