La Tradición del Pan de Maíz en Mérida y Yucatán: Un Viaje por los Sabores Ancestrales
This project is part of Breads of the Creative Cities, a global initiative developed by the Creative Knowledge Foundation in partnership with UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. “La Tradición del Pan de Maíz en Mérida y Yucatán: Un Viaje por los Sabores Ancestrales” explores Mérida’s bread heritage through the lens of ancestral knowledge, food sovereignty, and creative participation.
Deeply rooted in the everyday culture of Yucatán, corn is not just a crop—it is the foundation of identity and resilience. From tamales and tortillas to traditional breads, the project shines a light on how maize continues to shape life, cuisine, and community in Mérida.
Voices from the Land: the Keepers of Tradition
Working side by side with bakers, millers, farmers, and seed guardians, the project gathered the stories of those who carry the memory of maize. This approach, called heri-telling, creates space for community members to become the authors of their own heritage. Through interviews, workshops, and fieldwork, participants contributed their voices, techniques, and places to a living digital archive.
This method not only strengthens cultural identity but also supports social recognition, food justice, and creative inclusion. It’s a celebration of daily knowledge and quiet expertise—an invitation to learn from those who have protected Mérida’s bread heritage for generations.
Resources for now and the future
The legacy of the project lies in both content and access. The materials produced are designed to remain useful and visible within and beyond the local community. This includes:
- 📘 A bilingual booklet capturing the key voices and practices from the project, available for download here
- A dedicated digital collection on the CKPlatform
- QR codes for location-based storytelling
- Multimedia content including images, videos, and maps
- A transferable methodology for future community projects
An Inter-Cluster Collaboration Rooted in the Region
This project emerged from the collaboration between Mérida and Tucson, two UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. But it also goes further, connecting food heritage with audiovisual storytelling, craft, and design. This inter-cluster approach creates fertile ground for innovation, while staying firmly rooted in the land, the seed, and the table.
By celebrating Mérida’s bread heritage, the project affirms that creative expression can be a tool for sustainability, justice, and shared pride.
