Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada 2021 in Cocais, MG
9th Festa da Quitanda and 8th Festival da Goiabada
The Barão de Cocais Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada (quitandas are traditional homemade baked goods; goiabada is guava paste) reached their ninth and eighth editions, respectively, in 2021, keeping alive the tradition and flavor of the Colonial Village of Cocais despite the challenges of the period. For the first time in its history, the event was held in a fully online format, adapting to the pandemic while still celebrating the culinary culture of the Serra do Caraça and the work of local quitandeiras and producers.
Promoted by the Barão de Cocais City Hall, through the Departments of Culture and Tourism and Economic Development, the festival had the support of EMATER-MG and the Cocais Community Association, reaffirming the town's commitment to preserving its traditions and strengthening regional identity.
A historic, innovative edition
The 2021 edition was a milestone in the event's history. Even without an audience at the Praça do Rosário, the festival atmosphere took over social media, reaching hundreds of viewers who followed the activities online. On May 8 and 9, the program included videos, cooking workshops, musical performances and the eagerly awaited awards of the Quitandeiros and Junior Quitandeiros contests.
The recordings were made at the Old Registry Office Mansion, in the Colonial Village of Cocais, following health protocols and preserving the traditional atmosphere of the event. The judges assessed each dish on criteria such as flavor and aroma, originality of the recipe and presentation, reaffirming the care and creativity of the quitandeiras of Barão de Cocais.
On Sunday, the festival culminated in a live stream broadcast directly from the Mansion, with musical performances by Trio Juju, Totó e Ziziu and the duo Sérgio Augusto & Bruno, entertaining the audience at home and keeping the flame of local culture alive.
Food and tradition adapted to the new format
The virtual version of the Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada brought together 54 participants and around 100 dishes in four categories:
Breads and Ring Breads, Cakes and Pies, Biscuits, Ring Cookies and Small Cookies, and Savory Quitandas.
Even without an in-person format, the competition kept its high standard, and the five best dishes in each category received cash prizes ranging from R$ 300.00 to R$ 1,400.00. This reinforced the City Hall's support for local producers and encouraged the continuation of artisanal food production, a symbol of the Serra do Caraça.
The Junior Quitandeiro Contest, in its 7th edition, also took place online and had 16 participants, the highest number since the competition began. The children and young people presented authentic recipes inspired by family tradition and the typical sweetness of Minas Gerais cooking.
Award-winning quitandeiras and unforgettable flavors
With each edition, the quitandeiras of Cocais show the talent that has made the district a culinary reference. In 2021, the winners stood out for their originality and harmony of flavors.
Breads and Ring Breads Category:
1st – Mistura Gostosa – Mylene Fonseca Silveira
2nd – Natureba – Terezinha Paulina dos Santos Melo
3rd – Jeito Caipira – Piedade Serapia da Silva Romão
4th – Imperador – Jucinéia Aparecida da Silva Rocha
5th – Surpresa de Goiabada – Renilda Aparecida Fonseca
Cakes and Pies Category:
1st – Surpresa de Jabuticaba – Maria Rita de Alcântara Martins
2nd – Crepioca de Paçoca – Terezinha Paulina dos Santos Melo
3rd – Sabor de Liberdade – Juliana Lopes Santos de Oliveira
4th – Glamourosa – Sara Alcântara Martins
5th – Rolo Mineiro – Gabriela Júlia Fernandes
Biscuits, Ring Cookies and Small Cookies Category:
1st – Mineirinho – Sara Alcântara Martins
2nd – Rei do Amendoim – Evangela
3rd – Croc Croc de Limão – Maria Rita de Alcântara Martins
4th – Zé Galope – Jucinéia Aparecida da Silva Rocha
5th – Nevasca da Vovó – Gabriela Júlia Fernandes
Savory Quitandas Category:
1st – Pão Tropeiro – Luzia das Graças Ferreira da Silva
2nd – Torta Córrego do Inhame – Izabel Teodora da Silva
3rd – Pãezinhos da Saudade – Emanuella Christina Lopes
4th – Delícia da Vovó – Yara Alcântara Martins
5th – Inhamenhame de Queijo – Cláudia Aparecida Machado Fernandes
Junior Quitandeiros Category:
1st – Cobu – Maria Eduarda Fernandes
2nd – Bolo da Fé – Rafael Ferreira Melo
3rd – Fantasia – Ana Júlia Gonçalves Caldeira
4th – Sensação Mágica – Júnior Lopes de Oliveira
5th – Santa Casquinha – Yasmin Lopes Ferreira Fonseca
In total, 25 participants received prizes ranging from R$ 300.00 to R$ 1,400.00, across the five places in each category. The initiative reinforced the importance of the creative economy and of supporting artisanal food as a source of income and local identity.
Recognition and a sense of belonging
Even in a different format, the emotion and pride remained the same. Mayor Décio dos Santos stressed that the festival, even online, was essential to strengthen the town's culinary culture and keep its tradition alive:
"Even in a different format, we could not fail to strengthen our culinary culture. The tradition, the customs and the love everyone has for the festival remain alive."
The Secretary of Culture and Tourism, Gabriel Cassoli, also highlighted the importance of the online format as a way of preserving cultural memory:
"The difficulties we faced challenged us, but they also allowed us to value the tradition and the producers of Barão de Cocais even more."
These statements show that, even in times of distancing, the Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada remain a link between generations, connecting past and present through the flavors, stories and people that make the Serra do Caraça a land of Minas Gerais culture and identity.
