O charque e sua presença histórica, cultural e gastronômica em Pelotas- RS [Brasil] : possibilidades para o turismo

Abstract

Current gastronomy excels in registering and valuing regional culinary, especially products that characterize and/or identify the gastronomic culture of a given location. In these terms, the present investigation has as its object the presence of Charque in the city of Pelotas, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), a product that is historically of short importance in the local economic and sociocultural processes. However, it is a place known for its sweets, certified by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN) as Brazilian cultural heritage, a title received due to the recognition of the historical material and its sweet traditions. These are specialties that would hardly exist if the region had not established the largest "charqueador" industrial polo center in the 19th century. Thus, considering the importance of Charque and the charque industry in the historical formation of the city of Pelotas, the present master's thesis research seeks to assess whether a culinary offer produced from the delicacy could contribute to qualify the gastronomic tourism of the city. The nature of this research has an exploratory qualitative character, using bibliographic research, with subsequent interview and field research having as a cutout the tourist route 'Historical Center'. The research results reinforce that facts resulting from the occupation process of the current state of Rio Grande do Sul were decisive for the emergence of the charque industry in the region and subsequent foundation of the city, socially and culturally marked by the processes associated with "charqueadas". The greater use of the delicacy in local offers associated with gastronomic tourism is also indicated. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]