IN-PERSON: Prague – Section A

Abstract

The story of moqueca capixaba and the pot in which it’s served is one of indigenous traditions that become intangible cultural heritage. Moqueca is a fish stew that is the traditional dish of Espirito Santo, Brasil, where the term for the native people of ES is “capixaba”. Moqueca is cooked and served in a pot called panela de barra (a clay pot). These pots are handmade in Goiabeiras, Vitoria, ES. There exists Paneleiras de Goiabeiras, an association of artisans who carry on the tradition of clay pot making passed down for over 400 years by their families using indigenous techniques from the Tupi-Guarani and Una cultural legacy (IPHAN, n.d.). Even after intense urbanization, the place maintains the tradition (Artesol, n.d.). The knowledge and craft related to the artisanal manufacturing of the clay pots was the first cultural asset registered by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) as Intangible Heritage in 2002 (Redação, 2021). This artifact is so ingrained in Capixaba culture that it has become a part of the visual landscape of this region. You will not see moqueca served on any other kind of dish, when you arrive in the airport of Vitoria, there are murals of the dish and the women making them, and when you stop at rest stops, they are being sold. While its status as intangible cultural heritage helps safeguard the technique, this tradition faces threats to its continued existence due to continuing urbanization and environmental factors (Artesol, n.d.).