Medicinal plants night-time market in Bogotá

Cinzia Cuneo 15 ottobre, 2013 erbe aromatiche, cucine del mondo

In Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, in the district of Los Martires, there is a very special market. Two nights a week, Monday and Thursday from 10 pm until late at night, some 400 farmers from around the country gather in Samper Mendoza market to sell their herbs.

These herbs, almost 200 different species, are used for traditional medicine, and they need to be kept fresh. Hence the reason for a night-time farmers’ market. Samper Mendoza market is a very special place where secrets are exchanged to cure all kinds of ailments, but also remedies are provided against the evil eye, for good luck, for love or for money.

The growing of medicinal herbs has been a long-standing tradition in Bogotá, dating back to the pre-Hispanic era.

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.