The Plurinational State of Bolivia is one of the centres of origin of corn. Maize is an annual graminea, known in the Andes as Sara in Quechua. Purple maize is a variety of corn, known as Kulli, with incredible antioxidant properties, thanks to the anthocyanin (blue or purple pigment), which prevents the degeneration of some cells in the body, helping to prevent cancer. It is transformed into flour and is used to make purple Api.

Territory
Purple maize is a typical crop of the Cochabamba valleys from 2 000 to 2 600 metres. It is a variety resistant to prolonged periods of drought and adapted to the climatic conditions of these valleys, like many other varieties present. It is a variety resistant to prolonged periods of drought and adapted to the climatic conditions of these valleys.

Producers
The farmers are 24 families from the PGS Mi Llajta and 52 Quechua-speaking families from the PGS Cercado. The Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) guarantee the quality of products and agroecological practices of production systems.

Process
The post-harvest of purple maize (December - March) begins with the drying of the husk, which is then shelled manually and dried naturally. The women shelling in groups in a rite, which is an important part of the local culture, where they talk about the cultivation. It is an activity of ancestral reciprocity, called ayni and minka in Quechua. Then the shelled and dried corn is transformed into flour and the purple api is prepared. The ingredients are sugar, cinnamon, cloves, lemon and purple corn flour.

Taste and use
Purple api is served hot, pure or mixed with yellow api. It accompanies cheese cakes or fritters. It is an energetic food to recover strength in days with low temperatures. It is drunk during the patron saint festivals of Cochabamba and it is common to sell near the churches. Some municipalities of Cochabamba, have scheduled a Sunday of the year, to make the Api fair, in order to maintain this richness of the ancestral culinary food.

 

Further information

• Name of the Mountain Area: Cochabamba
• Altitude Range: Class 3: elevation 2 500-3 500 m
• Labelled since: 05.05.2023
• Type of producer: Family farmer, Women association
• Size of company: >50 people
• Distribution channel: Direct sale, Intermediary, Local market, Online, Retailer