Before arriving at the table as flour, beiju, pirão, or tapioca, cassava undergoes a deep transformation. It

is this transformation that the exhibition Lidas da Terra: Mandioca (Labors of the Land: Cassava), on view at Fazenda Bananal in Paraty, sets out to reveal. As an introduction to this universe, Livraria das Marés showcases profiles of farmers who bring the fields and flour houses to life, and sustain, through body and memory, a way of life deeply rooted in the land.

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The main exhibition, created by Fazenda Bananal and Casa da Cultura de Paraty, delves into cassava culture from multiple angles: cultivation and techniques, plant varieties, tools, artisanal flour-making,

and knowledge passed down across generations of indigenous, quilombola, and caiçara communities.

Far from relics of the past, these practices remain alive in family farms and support contemporary

efforts around sustainability, food security, and the appreciation for traditional ways of living.  

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At Livraria das Marés, the emphasis is on faces and stories. The written profiles highlight key figures

in Paraty’s cassava network: people who learned from their parents and grandparents to choose good stems, plant at the right time, read the signs of the land, and turn roots into food — and who embody firsthand knowledge of every stage of the process, from plot selection to harvesting.

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By sharing these profiles, Livraria das Marés brings visitors and locals closer to the people who preserve the flour house tradition, underscoring cassava’s central role in the region’s food culture. Discover their stories, then visit Fazenda Bananal for the main exhibition, which explores this universe in greater depth.