Quintana Roo gastronomy declared Intangible Cultural Heritage

The gastronomy of Quintana Roo has been officially declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State. This designation recognizes the traditional kitchens, ingredients, techniques, and culinary knowledge that form part of the region's identity, memory, and history.

The recognition encompasses Mayan, mestizo, coastal, and Caribbean traditional cuisines. It includes ancestral ingredients, generational knowledge, preparation techniques, community practices, markets, festivals, and traditional utensils. The declaration also incorporates the 'milpa maya' as a traditional food production system linked to community knowledge.

Through this measure, the state government aims to protect these traditions against food homogenization, preserve biocultural legacies, and promote food sovereignty. The initiative is also expected to support the local economic chain, benefiting traditional cooks, local producers, and tourism-related services. State agencies, including the Secretariats of Education and Tourism, will work to formally register these culinary expressions and promote cultural exchange through festivals and academic collaborations.