The Carlos Machado Museum is hosting the exhibition Pimenta da Terra – Seasoning from São Miguel, which will be on display at the Santo André Center starting on September 27th, at 3:00 PM.

This exhibition is a project developed by the Carlos Machado Museum as part of its efforts to preserve and promote the regional Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). The initiative focuses on documenting and researching a significant aspect of local culture: the Artisanal Production of Pimenta da Terra on São Miguel Island, Azores. Known locally as Pimenta da Terra, this spicy variety of the Capsicum genus has been a cornerstone of traditional Azorean cuisine for centuries. It is believed to have been introduced to the archipelago through Atlantic trade routes during the maritime expansion of the 15th and 16th centuries. The artisanal production of Pimenta da Terra is a long-standing tradition, passed down through generations. This process involves multiple steps that safeguard the distinctive flavor and quality of this emblematic seasoning. This exhibition explores the journey of this unique product, tracing its evolution from past to present, from artisanal methods to industrial production, and from tradition to modern innovation. By intertwining knowledge, practices, and objects, the exhibit highlights Pimenta da Terra not merely as a culinary staple, but as a symbol of regional identity and the continuity of cultural practices in the Azores.

Exhibition Credits

DIRECTOR
João Paulo Constância
CURATORSHIP AND COORDINATION
Intangible Cultural Heritage :
Bruna Roque / Sara Maio / Valério Moniz
REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHY COLLECTION
Sílvia Fonseca e Sousa
VIDEO
Valério Moniz
TRANSLATION
Sara Maio
DESIGN
Alexandre Laranjeira
MUSEUM TEAM
Ana Amado / Ana Fernandes
Catarina Melo Antunes / Helena Medeiros / Mafalda Melo
Maura Ponte / Norberto Garcia / Rui Paiva
Sílvia Fonseca e Sousa / Teotónia Coelho
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
João Sousa / José Melo / Manuel Sousa / Mário Melo / Nélia Alves / Rodrigo Alves /Vânia Botelho
Quintal dos Açores
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES
Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Divino Espírito Santo da Maia - Fotografias de Laudalino da Ponte Pacheco (1921-1998)
Museu Carlos Machado - Património Cultural Imaterial (2023-2024)