Food Species of Collection and Culinary Culture: Biocultural Heritage of the popoloca community Todos Santos Almolonga, Puebla, Mexico

Abstract

The Food Collection Species (EAR) are the set of foods (herbs, fruits, seeds, flowers and animals) that grow naturally and are part of the diet of different cultural groups. These foods allow the conservation of biodiversity, offer the possibility of diversifying the consumption of food and have healthier diets. Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest biological and cultural diversity: biocultural, which has originated the creation and conservation of biocultural kitchens. Of these, rural people, indigenous communities and women cooks, who reproduce their food practices and appropriate their natural riches through them, are primarily guardians. The biocultural kitchens are the essence of the preservation of the food culture. The analysis of this is relevant because through it the common dietary patterns are determined. The present investigation analyzes the alimentary culture between the settlers of Todos Santos Almolonga from the Biocultural Heritage focus, which contributes to the permanence of the consumption of 23 EAR; as well as the assessment and perception. The study was qualitative with mixed methods, for this a survey was carried out to 59 domestic units, two routes to the collection areas, 9 semi-structured interviews were applied, informal talks and activities were carried out to prepare local stews with the EAR The surveys, interviews, field notes and field diary were coded. It was found that there is a food culture based on the consumption of EAR, which is found in families that are engaged in field activities (52.5%), are those who mainly conserve local knowledge, produce-collect and present the highest consumption of collection food. There are two forms of access to these foods: by direct harvesting given their proximity and access and by commercial exchange for their remoteness or laborious harvesting. The forms of consumption of the EAR are primarily raw, roasted and boiled. The two factors that contribute most to the EAR are present in the diet of the inhabitants are: the sociocultural factor, reinforces the part of the collective identity and social fabric, and the health factor, where the population identified its importance from the nutritional, wellness and in the prevention of diseases. In the community, the sociocultural factor in the consumption of EARs on the economic criterion that is the dominant discourse in recent times and that downplays the entire cultural construction and view of indigenous peoples and communities was highlighted.