Chile : Articles : Canela

Canela, Land of  Cumin and Goats Cheese 

This antique populated town situated in the small north of our country, at first it was the called Estancia de la Canela. Born in the beginnings of the XVII century parting from the hacienda El Totoral. It's origin goes back to the  Spanish monarchy when they handed over the land to officials and troop personal. As a way to give gratitude to the services supplied to the Spanish kingdom. Originally inhabited by Diaguita and the  Pincuches Indians that were under the lordship of the grand Inca kingdom during the arrival of the Spaniards.

This locality is ideal for those who enjoy clear skies and temperate climate being that it is benign during 10 months of the year. The period of rains fluctuate between the months of June and July. In addition, there exist an abundance and variety of flora y fauna. The landscape is found splashed with small valleys and little villages of grand beauty.  A vast amount of Canela's very own legends decorate the zone with the daily life of its inhabitants that are so generous and charming.
The gastronomy possesses a grand variety of their own culinary specialties. Their customs are inherited from generation to generation that makes the people of the Canela community depositaries of an abundant socio-cultural patrimony.
With characteristic houses made of adobe and beautiful constructions; this zone offers autochthonism parties of Chile during the summer season. Some of them are; The Rodeo, the famous Trillas, carreras a la chilena (Chilean races) and religious festivals.

Canela is made up of 42 agricultural communities of which its people are owners of the rural land that they have formed like; Los Rulos, Los Pozos, Fasico, Jabonería, Mincha, Huentelauquén, Agua Dulce (costal sector) amongst many others. The fruits of the land make agriculture the principal activity of this zone. Cultivating cumin year after year. Wheat and barley are the principal products of the area and as well as the processing of goats cheese. 
The principal streets of Canela is where the major quantity of activities occur. Being that the municipality and part of the basic services (restaurants, pensions, gasoline stations, etc) can be found here.
Canela has a tradition that the locals have tried to conserve recently; their artesian works like textile weaving are highlights of Canela, as well as basket weaving. Mincha an artesian liquor and the prementioned goats cheese are a grand local custom. Canela's agricultural products are free of contaminants and are irrigated by clean water of subterranean origin. In Canela the sky, sea, and land are unmatched in purity.

 Text  y Photos are a collaboration of Stella Espinoza