UNESCO recognizes Artisanal Minas cheese as intangible heritage
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 4) the inclusion of the method of making Artisanal Minas Cheese on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This is the first time a Brazilian food-making tradition has been awarded the title of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The production of Artisanal Minas Cheese spans 106 municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais. Made from raw milk, this cheese has been crafted for over three centuries, dating back to the colonial period.
Since 2008, the Methods of Making Artisanal Minas Cheese have been recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Brazil by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), which is linked to the Ministry of Culture.
The recognition request was submitted by Iphan to UNESCO in March 2023 and approved during the 19th session of the UNESCO Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay.
In a statement, Brazil's Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, described the recognition as “a unique way of preserving our memory and the wisdom of our people.”
Leandro Grass, president of Iphan, emphasized that the cheese holds no value without the human element, noting that it is not just the Minas cheese that is heritage, but the methods of making it. “Behind the history of Minas cheese lies the history of Brazil and family farming.”
For Grass, the recognition represents a commitment to the care and preservation of this cultural asset. He expressed hope that it would help highlight the heritage of Minas Gerais and Brazil.
A brief recital featuring a choir and guitar at the Palace of Liberty in Belo Horizonte, the state capital, marked the celebration of this achievement, which is deeply rooted in the culture of Minas Gerais.
