The Central Market
In the centre of the city of Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais (Brazil), is the Central Market. The place is known for its diversity of excellent quality traditional products, the local crafts and for being a gastronomic reference
Olives (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Olives
Kitchen utensils from Minas Gerais (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Kitchen utensils
History
Created on 7 September 1929, the Central Market of Belo Horizonte has “a little of everything”, as the city´s own inhabitants say. In each store, we can find products of the popular culture of Minas Gerais and its diversity (Mercado Central, 2023)
Seasoning (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The typical foods, with flavours from different regions, awaken innumerable sensations in visitors. They also promote the affective memory of those who grew up in Minas Gerais and find their link to their ancestry in the market
Cod (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Cod
Cabbage (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Cabbage from Minas Gerais
Local dishes
There is a wide variety of typical dishes from Minas Gerais on offer for lunch at the market. Among them, feijão tropeiro (drover beans) and fígado com jiló acebolado (liver with scarlet eggplant and onion).
Drover beans (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
"Feijão tropeiro" (Drover beans)
The name feijão tropeiro was given in reference to agricultural and livestock traders who travelled long paths between the 17th and 20th centuries. To ensure their own food, the tropeiros took with them food such as beans, crackling (from pork) and other ingredients (G1, 2023)
Liver with scarlet eggplant and onion (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
"Fígado com jiló acebolado" (Liver with scarlet eggplant)
The fígado com jiló acebolado is a combination of beef liver, a vegetable with a bitter taste (jiló) and onion
Crafts
Local crafts are made with creativity and a delicate touch. Dehydrated painted flowers eternalized in branches for decoration
"Namoradeiras" dolls
Crafts can also be made with corn husks and wood, giving rise to toys that have marked generations. The namoradeiras dolls are statues of ladies with their hands resting on their chins, as a sign of waiting, by the window, to see their loved ones
A little bit of every detail (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Mystical and colerful side of the market (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Every detail reveals a special story
Explore the Central Market of Belo Horizonte involves to experience textures and smell each aroma
Canastra station (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Accept the delicious pieces of different homemade cheese they offer for tasting
Homemade cheese from Minas Gerais (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Candy (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Discover the famous doce de leite (milk cream) and honey
Through the halls 1 (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Since 1929, the Central Market of Belo Horizonte has won over hearts
Cuisine from Minas Gerais (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Crafts (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Through the halls 2 (21th Century) by Tatiane OliveiraVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Halls of market
Alessandra Nardini
References
Mercado Central (2023). Sobre o Mercado Central. Disponível em https://mercadocentral.com.br/sobre/ Consulta realizada em 14 de julho de 2023.
G1 (2023). “Sabores de Minas”: conheça a história do feijão tropeiro. Disponível em https://g1.globo.com/mg/centro-oeste/noticia/2022/12/29/sabores-de-minas-conheca-a-historia-do-feijao-tropeiro.ghtml Consulta realizada em 14 de julho de 2023.
