Applicant:
Pachna Cultural Association “Agios Stefanos”
Communities Concerned - Bearers of the element:
There are many communities associated with the long tradition of vine products, most of them situated mainly in the Wine-villages area. When it comes to grape mash, it is the community of Pachna and the village organised bodies (Pachna Ayios Stefanos Cultural & Religious Association, Pachna Youth Centre, Diaspora Association and Community Council) that exhibit a special interest in promoting and preserving it. Finally, those who are actually involved in producing grape mash are individual villagers, mainly housewives.
Domain of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
Traditional nutrition and customary practices
Date of inscription:
2017
Geographical distribution:
Pachna belongs to the geographical district of the Limassol Wine-villages and grape mash is an element which is found in many of the communities in this cluster. Research carried out by the Association and records of oral witness accounts by Pachna residents, show that the production of grape mash in Pachna goes back many years.
Brief description:
Grape mash constitutes a traditional foodstuff produced from grape juice and flavourings and served for breakfast or as a snack in the form or either marmalade or dessert. The grape variety used to produce the mash differs from household to household. Some ladies prefer the local Xynisteri variety whereas others use the Mavra variety. All housewives prepare the grape mash at home as they learned this from their mothers and they offer it as a gift to their offspring, their siblings, their friends and in-laws. It is a product with local character, specific aroma and nice taste and it helps bond generations together. As a grape by-product, it promotes the tradition of vine-culture in Pachna and is associated with the customs of grape harvest (September and October).