Project TASTE

Increase quality scientific production oriented towards intelligent specialization. This project contributes to the promotion of tourism in the Azores, through the valorization of gastronomy and regional wine production. The regional gastronomic heritage, an intangible constituent of the cultural heritage, has proven to be a source of differentiation and the basis for initiatives to enhance the tourist offer of destinations. Clearly a reflection of the local culture, the gastronomic and wine heritage of the Azores can be a differentiating factor and enhance the offer of the Azores destination, linking the production of the primary and secondary sectors with traditions, in a unique combination of sensory and rational experiences, distinct in each of the nine islands that promote the development of a sustainable tourism strategy in the archipelago.

Thus, this project seeks to contribute through:

- The elaboration of an insular gastronomic menu, based on collections that decode the archipelago's historical food consumption;

-  The creation of a product database (in dialogue with the primary and secondary sectors), with the provision of georeferenced information (origin, travel and history of typical products) ;

-  The dissemination of cooking methods (traditional and current) articulated with a profile of traditional recipes inspired by the Azorean cultural heritage;

- The promotion of cultural facilities of the RAA that have and/or present elements of a gastronomic and wine nature (wine museums; ethnographic museums; regional wineries…)

- The optimization of tourism in the Azores with a cultural offer based on the authenticity and scientificity of traditional recipes, valuing the gastronomic experience as an attractive element of the archipelago;

- Holding workshops with national and international experts, participating in national and international conferences and congresses and publishing scientific articles and doctoral and master's theses;

- The construction of a georeferenced menu about each product and recipe by county or island, as appropriate, and the creation of a digital “recipe book” that aggregates regional products (valorization of the Azores brand), the cooking and processing techniques and the entire respective heritage framework, to be made available through electronic channels.