Papantla in Veracruz preserves the flyers’ tradition and vanilla culture
The Mexican city of Papantla in northern Veracruz combines the Totonac tradition of the “dance of the flyers” with centuries-old vanilla cultivation. As Mexico News Daily reports, the region is considered the birthplace of vanilla, and Papantla was once one of the world’s centers for its export.
The Danza de los Voladores ritual, or “dance of the flyers,” is recognized by UNESCO. Four performers climb a tall pole and then descend headfirst, spinning on ropes tied to their feet. A fifth participant remains at the top, performs a ceremonial dance and plays a flute and a small drum. The tradition is associated with the archaeological site of El Tajín, which was the Totonac capital from 800 CE.
The region’s vanilla heritage
According to the publication, the Totonacs harvested the fruits of local orchids before any other known society and domesticated vanilla on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Mariana Hernández Apolinar, a biologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, noted that Mexico was the world’s sole supplier of vanilla for more than 200 years.
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Between 1870 and 1910, Papantla, which has a population of 55,452 according to the national census, was a center of the vanilla trade. A significant share of the spice was exported to Europe and the United States, and the region was called the city that filled the world with fragrance. In the mid-19th century, Europe discovered the possibility of hand-pollinating vanilla flowers, which made it possible to grow vanilla beyond its natural range and expand plantation production in other tropical regions.
Tourism and local cuisine
Today, Papantla offers tours of vanilla plantations and a two-day “Vanilla Route.” It includes a visit to the 54-acre Xanath ecological park, where a plot for sustainable vanilla cultivation is preserved, as well as a family farm that produces artisanal products.
Local shops sell coffee with vanilla extract, vanilla concentrate, beverages, liqueurs, perfumes and candles. In regional cuisine, vanilla is used, among other things, in a chicken sauce. Among local dishes, the publication names bocoles, zacahuil, regional varieties of tamales and dishes with pumpkin seeds. The city is also known for the works of sculptor, painter and muralist Teodoro Cano García and the museum bearing his name, which displays his paintings and Totonac artifacts.
