Qarasiña Culinary Tradition: Conserving Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jach a Puni (Andean Community), Bolivia

Heritage encompasses features integral to the culture of a particular society, such as traditional foods that have historical significance and continue to be part of the community s identity. These culinary traditions must be preserved to sustain cultural identity and community well-being. This study aims to document the role of qarasi \& ntilde;a, along with other ancestral foods, in establishing quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as a cultural keystone species in the Jach a Puni community. Primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with local experts and community observations, supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. Findings reveal that in Jach a Puni, all food is considered sacred. Three main types of qarasi \& ntilde;a are identified: jupha qarasi \& ntilde;a, ajara qarasi \& ntilde;a, and kita qarasi \& ntilde;a. The primary ingredients are domesticated quinoa (jupha) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. quinoa) and wild quinoa (ajara) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. melanospermum and C. hircinum). Qarasi \& ntilde;a is integral to community banquets and social events. Although quinoa is celebrated globally as the “golden grain”, there is a risk that qarasi \& ntilde;a may disappear and quinoa could be replaced by wheat or maize, threatening its status as a cornerstone species in the Bolivian Altiplano.