A paçoca como símbolo representativo da identidade cultural da região sertaneja do Ceará

Abstract

Paçoca can be considered more than just a food; it is a cultural symbol deeply rooted in the traditions of the backlands of Ceará, with a history that goes back centuries, associated with traditional ways of life, especially in the diet of cowboys and rural workers. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate this preparation as a representative symbol of the creativity and resistance of the backlands cuisine and the regional identity of the backlands of Ceará, exploring these aspects that can contribute to the rescue of cultural practices that are at risk of being forgotten and to investigate paçoca as a cultural and identity element of the backlands of Ceará, seeking to understand why this preparation has become typical of the backlands people of Ceará. The research was conducted in the format of a scientific article and used a qualitative approach, with bibliographic sources to analyze the history, composition and cultural relevance of paçoca in the region. The thesis concluded that regional cuisine, as well as its preparations, can represent the cultural identity of a given region, as long as these dishes are also linked to cultural, social and territorial factors of that place and that paçoca fulfills this requirement. It was then concluded that paçoca can be considered a preparation representative of the cultural identity of the backlands of Ceará since it carries with it ingredients available in the region; techniques influenced by territorial factors and that were influenced by the main ethnic groups that inhabited the region; traditional local utensils, and was present at all times in the history of this region and its people.