Relevant facts.

Belém, capital of the state of Pará, is located in the heart of the Amazon, combining the wealth of a metropolis with the exuberance of the largest tropical forest in the world. With its rivers and 42 islands, Belém offers to residents – and visitors – a huge variety of entertainment options, adventure tourism and nature contemplation.

The city has invested heavily in valuing gastronomy as a vector of sustainable development, contributing to the struggle against hunger and inequalities, making dishes and recipes instruments of social transformation for thousands of families. These actions involve festivals, training in different aspects and levels of the chain, improving access to gastronomic centers, recovery and adaptation of urban facilities, etc.

What makes the Creative Field of Gastronomy special?

The incomparable characteristics of its Amazonian cuisine, with a great diversity of dishes, unique herbs and fruits and the best ice cream in the world, earned Belém the honorable title of Creative City of Gastronomy, granted by UNESCO. Its cuisine is predominantly based on indigenous traditions, with strong Portuguese and African influences, which makes its culinary an exotic one, attracting attention from all over the world.

How the designation is being managed?

The title of Creative City of Gastronomy is managed by the Municipality, through the Development and Administration Company of the Metropolitan Region of Belém - CODEM, with the support of the Gastronomy Management Committee which brings together representatives of the Public Sector (at the Municipal and State levels), of the Academy and restaurant and producer associations.

Gastronomy traditions.

Maniçoba, a dish of indigenous origin, using manioc leaves ground and cooked for seven days, then adding pork and beef and other smoked and savory ingredients.

Tacacá, also a dish of indigenous origin, made with tucupi, a yellow liquid extracted from the root of wild manioc, mixed with tapioca starch and shrimp. The broth also contains jambu, a Pará herb that causes a slight sensation of numbness in the mouth.

Pato no Tucupi (duck in tucupi), made with wild duck meat bathed in tucupi and seasoned with jambu.

Iconic local products.

• Tucupi, a yellow liquid extracted from the root of wild manioc
• Jambu, a herb that causes a slight sensation of numbness in the mouth
• Filhote, a huge river fish found only in the Amazon
• Açaí, a purple berry famous for its energetic power and part of the daily diet of most of the Amazonian people
• Bacuri, a fruit from the Amazon region, widely consumed in the form of juice and sweets
• Cupuaçu, an Amazonian fruit also widely consumed in the form of juice and sweets.

Local stakeholders.

• Belém City Hall
• State of Pará Government
• Brazilian Bar and Restaurant Association-ABRASEL
• Federal University of Pará-UFPa
• University of the Amazon-UNAMA

Gastronomy main events.

• Recovery and re-adaptation of the historic São Brás Market, built at the beginning of the 20th century, mixing elements of art nouveau and neoclassical styles, with sculptural details also in iron and decorative tiles. The new Market will strengthen the local economy, as a new and modern tourist, gastronomic and cultural complex with an economically and environmentally sustainable vision. In this way, it will bring countless benefits to the City and its inhabitants, also providing another attraction for visitors.
• The Gastronomy of the Islands Project seeks to preserve and strengthen the traditional gastronomic culture of the islands that make up the City. The event offers training for entrepreneurs, producers and workers, aiming to develop economically and environmentally sustainable operations. The Project also encourages the development and enhancement of local input production, contributing to reducing costs and improving the income and quality of life of producers in the region. In addition to Gastronomy, the Project also has great relevance for promoting tourism on the islands, enchanting visitors with its stunning landscapes, exuberant flora and fauna and characteristic music. 
• The Boulevard of Gastronomy, a public facility delivered to the population in November 2023, constitutes a gastronomic corridor, permanently giving dynamism to an area in the historic center of Belém, a cultural heritage site of the City. The Boulevard encourages the development of tourism and gastronomy, creating a hub to attract visitors and offer them an immersion in the city's culture, in aspects of gastronomy, music, customs and historical architectural heritage.