Understanding Paisa culture is part of the adventure of life in central Colombia. It is risky business because culture will affect the way you speak to others, buy properties or close business transactions. Socially, it can affect your ability to establish meaningful relationships with local inhabitants.

Which is why you might be asking yourself - what the heck is a Paisa?

In Colombia, in the interior, between the high mountains of the western corridor and central Andes, is a culture traditionally identified as Paisa.

Traditional Paisa

It is important to note that most inhabitants of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio, Valle del Cauca - Norte and certain municipalities of Tolima and El Choco - will self-identify as Paisa. This orientation centers around the socio economic culture of coffee production and regional commerce.

The architecture, gastronomic tradition and social activities are all elements which help to define the Paisa culture for local inhabitants and foreign residents. Through a deeper understanding of the cultural beliefs and societal norms, we can begin to answer the original question: "What is the Colombian Paisa culture?"

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Paisa culture is based on the Three Sisters - Corn, Beans and Pumpkin/Squash. The corn is planted first. Once it grows and is close to harvest, you plant beans, they crawl up the stalks of the corn - no need for stakes, and the squash or pumpkin act as a ground cover while the beans grow - and protect from excessive sun/dryness in the earth. From this traditional act of permaculture - comes the Paisa food traditions of the central Andes Mountains.

The soup in the photo is called Sancocho - a Coffee Axis Tradition, it contains plantain, potato and yucca in broth with corn and cilantro. The meat on the plate is called Espinazo de Cerdo (Pork Spine) - therefore the soup is called "Sancocho de Espinazo." It is always served with a banana, rice, arepa and avocado on the side.

Traditional agricultural production in this region includes cattle, milk, cheese, plantain/bananas, yucca, corn, tomatoes, tropical fruits/citrus, green onions and coffee. Of course, this is a limited list but some of the more exotic production includes cocoa, gulupa and passion fruit.

Architecture

The Casa Paisa, is a house made from a bamboo structure with a type of adobe wall made from cow poop and local clay. Some of these houses have lasted over 100 years due to the resilience and earthquake resistance of these materials.

Appearance

The physical characteristics are a people not terribly tall - not terribly short, maybe an average height of 5'5" in men and 5 feet tall in women. Their skin and complexion range from very light and fair to a half dozen offshoots of genetic combinations with Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Cultures. In general, they are of a handsome appearance with the Paisa women being celebrated for their beauty and ingenuity.

Social Tradition

The social traditionof the Paisa culture revolves around the traditions of commerce, transport and agriculture. Mule trains brought the first colonists into the area and the rest stop of those travelers, known as the Fonda.

The culture which sprang up around the Fonda - is what we identify today as Paisa. Therefore, the Fonda Paisa, is the general storefront/soda fountain where mule teams stopped and rested. Today most rural inhabitants are transported with their goods by Jeep Willys - although some far out areas are still ONLY accessible by mule trains.

The people of the Coffee Axis are known for their warm effusive nature which sets visitors at ease, and can even be rather disarming. Watch out, because Paisas are known for their sharp negotiation skills and business acumen!

Religion

Paisa culture places a tremendous importance on family and beliefs. Most local inhabitants are full or part-time Catholics. Many of their beliefs stem from a conservative world view which is heavily influenced by the church and clerical traditions.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 2011, UNESCO declared the cradle of this culture - the Coffee Region of Colombia, as a registered site for careful cultural preservation. The Paisa culture is part of what qualifies the Coffee Axis for this special honor.

What is Cafetero?

In modern times, the Coffee Region - or Coffee Axis (Eje Cafetero), is starting to identify as a distinct cultural tradition which is being labeled as "Cafetero" in local, regional and national pop culture, press/media and literature.

Cafetero - is the (new) name for the cultural archetype of the people of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Valle Norte in the zone traditionally known as Eje Cafetero, or Coffee Axis.

It is important to understand that many Cafeteros are descendants of Paisa's from Antioquia. However, Many are also full or partial descendants of Tolimenses, Calenos and even Cachacos from Bogota. The multicultural fabric and traditions of this region are what form together to create this newer self-identified culture as Cafetero.

In many ways, these two culture archetypes (Paisa and Cafetero) share traditions, gastronomy and lifestyle. Yet, when you break down the details, there are distinct differences in the way they speak and behave in social or business situations.

Photography by Erin Donaldson

Learn more about the Colombian Coffee Axis at: https://coffeeaxistravel.com

Sources:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1121