Brazil: a celebration of taste

Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI) has received another application for a Geographical Indication (IG). On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, INPI received an application that corresponded to ‘biscoitos de São Tiago’, a traditional biscuits from the Region Campo das Vertentes in Minas Gerais. Producers chose the mode indication of source (Indicação de Procedência) which bears out the tradition of a product in a particular region.

The application was filed by the Associação São-Tiaguense, producers of the biscuit, which is formed by 23 members. The business generates around 700 direct jobs and its weekly production is approximately 150 tons. The city is the headquarters of the Festa do Café-com-Biscoit (Coffee and biscuit Party), which annually brings back tradition and attracts local tourists.

INPI makes the note that to prepare the request, the city was aided by the Center for Technological Innovation (NIT) from the Federal University of São João del Rei (UFSJ), which is INPI’s partner. Also this action is supported by the Foundation for Research and Support of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).

Surely they can celebrate the party with national products: a Cerrado Mineiro coffee (already a GI in the form of IS and pending a DO) and also some sweets: doces de Pelota served in Goiabeiras pots. If your taste is not that sweet, then try some shrimps: camarões da Costa Negra or some rice Litoral Norte Gaúcho or even better, a steak: Pampa Gaúcho da Campanha Meridional. However if you are not that hungry, then just walk around with a comfy pair of boots: Vale dos Sinos, enjoying a nice glass of wine: Vale dos Vinhedos and/or Pinto Bandeira – perhaps you like something stronger like Paraty. As the weather is sunny we recommend to wear a hat: Jalapão. Certainly we do not want you to be caught in the middle of any riots and see people throwing stones: Região Pedra Carijó-Paduana, Região Pedra Madeira-Paduana and, Região Pedra Cinza-Paduana; but is you are hit by one of them, don’t worry: treat yourself with some Manguezais de Alagoas.

Source INPI.