Paraguay names its smoky cocido a piece of national cultural heritage

Cocido, the hot yerba mate drink that many Paraguayans start the day with, is now officially part of the country's intangible cultural heritage. The National Secretariat of Culture (SNC) made the declaration at the Asunción Port Cultural Centre during a forum titled “Paraguayan Yerba Mate: National Pride”.1

The recognition covers the knowledge and techniques used to prepare and drink cocido, and gives special mention to cocido quemado, or burnt cocido. In the traditional method, sugar is caramelised together with yerba mate, often by placing a glowing piece of charcoal on the mixture, before hot water is added. The result has a smoky taste that, cooks say, a kettle cannot copy.1

One drink, many names

Culture Minister Adriana Ortiz Semidei pointed to regional variations, such as the “asado de Concepción”, as the drink is known in that northern city because of the smoke it produces in the early morning. She said the practice should keep being taught “in homes, educational institutions, workplaces and tourist establishments”.1

Next step: a protected name for yerba mate

The same forum discussed progress towards a Denomination of Origin for Paraguayan yerba mate, a label that would protect the product's origin and quality on foreign markets. Guests closed the event with a tasting of cocido quemado.1