Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada 2019 in Cocais, MG

8th Festa da Quitanda and 7th Festival da Goiabada

The Colonial Village of Cocais, in Barão de Cocais, once again hosted one of the most eagerly awaited festivals of the Serra do Caraça region: the 8th Festa da Quitanda and 7th Festival da Goiabada (quitandas are traditional homemade baked goods; goiabada is guava paste), held on May 4 and 5, 2019. The event, already part of the town's cultural heritage, once again delighted residents, tourists and visitors from different parts of Minas Gerais, Brazil and even abroad, establishing itself as one of the largest food and cultural gatherings in the state.

Promoted by the Barão de Cocais City Hall, through the Departments of Culture and Tourism and Economic Development, with the support of Emater-MG, SENAC, Agribarão and the Union of Salaried Rural Workers and Family Farmers, the festival was sponsored by major partner companies: AngloGold Ashanti, Aditya Birla – Hindalco Brasil, Jaguar Mining Inc., Onix Minérios, Gerdau and Laticínios Cocais.

The main goal of the event was to value and promote the art of Barão de Cocais cooking, highlighting the traditional Minas Gerais quitanda and Goiabada Cascão (chunky guava paste), recognized as Intangible Heritage of Barão de Cocais.

Tradition, Culture and Flavors of the Serra do Caraça

The official opening took place on Saturday, with the food court in full swing from early on, featuring dozens of stalls with typical Minas Gerais recipes: breads, cakes, broas, ring cookies, cheeses, angu pastries and, of course, the famous goiabada cascão made in the copper pan.

During the day, the public attended the Open Workshop "How to Make Goiabada Cascão", a traditional activity of the event that teaches the artisanal process of making the delicacy. Next, the FUNCEC Big Band Orchestra moved the audience with a varied repertoire, and the Junior Quitandeiros Contest added a touch of joy and creativity to the afternoon.

Saturday closed in a festive mood with a lively show by the band Farra Trio, which got everyone dancing in the charming Praça do Rosário, the historic heart of the Colonial Village of Cocais, one of the postcard sights of the Serra do Caraça.

Ecological Walk and Connection with Nature

On Sunday, the program began early with the "Pelas Trilhas do Barão" Ecological Walk (Along the Baron's Trails), led by guide João Lima. The route, about 7 km long, allowed participants to explore the region's natural attractions, discovering landscapes, waterfalls and viewpoints that make up the rich natural heritage of Cocais and the Serra do Caraça.

After the walk, visitors were welcomed at the Praça do Rosário with the traditional Quitanda Breakfast, full of treats and traditional drinks. Next, the public watched a performance by the Maestro Yolando dos Santos Children's Choir, conducted by maestro Alexandre Lacerda, and the second Goiabada Cascão workshop.

The afternoon featured the Quitanda Contest Awards and a performance by Banda DR4, closing the event with music, joy and plenty of flavor.

Junior Quitandeiros and Talent in the Spotlight

The Junior Quitandeiros Contest, always one of the most eagerly awaited moments, highlighted the talent of the community's children and young people, who prepared recipes inspired by family tradition. This edition's participants included André Augusto Keles da Silva, Gabriela Júlia da Silva, Isabelle das Graças Keles da Silva, Lorrayne Gabrielle Brito Souza Alvarenga, Cristhian Fernando de Alcântara Moreira, Eliel Dias da Silva Rocha, Ítalo da Silva Pereira Gomes and others.

The judging panel — made up of representatives of the Instituto ISIS, the Catas Altas Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Circuito do Ouro, Jaguar Mining, Emater-MG and the Santa Bárbara City Hall — assessed presentation, originality, flavor and aroma.

The winners were:

• 1st place: Gabriela Júlia Fernandes – "Bom Bocado de Mandioca" (cassava bom bocado)

• 2nd place: Júnior Lopes de Oliveira – "Jujuzinho"

• 3rd place: Lorrayne Gabrielle B. S. Alvarenga – "Milho & Queijo" (Corn & Cheese)

The winners received cash prizes and the community's recognition for keeping the quitanda tradition alive in the Serra do Caraça.

Quitanda Contest and New Categories

Before the event, on April 27, the traditional Quitanda Contest was held at the Old Registry Office Mansion, bringing together 32 quitandeiras and 60 dishes. In 2019, a new category was added, making the competition even tastier.

The four categories were:

• Breads and Sweet Ring Breads

• Cakes and Pies (required ingredient: Goiabada Cascão)

• Biscuits, Cookies and Ring Cookies

• Savory and Baked Quitandas

Among the winners were:

• Maria Rita de Alcântara Martins with "Rachei os Bicos";

• Terezinha Paulina dos Santos Melo with "Adoçando a Vida" (Sweetening Life);

• Jucinéia Aparecida da Silva Rocha with "Lembranças da Vovó" (Grandma's Memories);

• Vanessa Pereira Lima de Freitas with "Pastel de Angu" (angu pastry).

The top three in each category received cash prizes and special tributes during the festival. In addition, the best-decorated stall, belonging to quitandeira Sara Alcântara, was awarded R$ 300.00 for its creativity and beauty.

Tribute and Recognition of Tradition

The 2019 edition paid special tribute to quitandeira Terezinha Paulina dos Santos Melo, recognized for her talent and her dedication to preserving the memory and flavor of the traditional quitandas of Cocais. Her contribution has inspired new generations and symbolizes the welcoming spirit of the community.

During the ceremony, a check for R$ 350,000 was also presented to the São José Parish for the restoration of the historic churches of Cocais, through the FUMPAC – Municipal Cultural Heritage Fund, reinforcing the City Hall's commitment to preserving the region's historic heritage.

A Tradition That Moves Generations

In his speech, Mayor Décio dos Santos highlighted his pride in seeing the event grow with each edition:

"The Festa da Quitanda reflects the cultural and economic strength of our town. Our quitandeiras once again set an example of skill and dedication, delighting tourists from many parts of Brazil and even France."

Agronomist Rejane Mendes, from Emater-MG, added:

"The beauty of this festival lies in bringing together, in a single space, tradition, culture, flavors and know-how that represent family farming and the soul of the Serra do Caraça."

With impeccable organization, community participation and recipes that span generations, the 2019 Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada reaffirmed the role of Cocais as a guardian of the flavors and memories of Minas Gerais.