From Colombia to the World: Meet Our First Taste of Place Guardian

Born in Las Raíces, San Juan del Cesar, Colombia, Mabel Esther Vega Montaño lives in a way that truly reflects the meaning of her birthplace. A rural teacher and guardian of traditions, she bridges formal education with the transmission of ancestral knowledge, particularly in the respectful cultivation and harvesting of the land.

Through her work in fique weaving, she connects communities and supports rural tourism that is closely linked to local gastronomy. In her world, the wooden pestle, the totumo achiotero, and the wood-fired stove are not just tools, but essential elements in the preparation of traditional dishes. These practices preserve and celebrate the living memory and deep cultural roots of the territory to which she has dedicated her life.