POZOL AND BELONGING: THE EROSION OF IDENTIFY THROUGH MAYA FOOD CULTURE IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

U ts’a’abal k’ajóotbil ba’ax u jejeláasil bix u kuxtal yéetel bix le maaya wíiniko’ob: U tsoolil ti’ le ba’ax ku ya’alal yo’olal le u yu’uk’ul k’eyem tumen le táankelel paalalo’ob yéetel máako’ob  tu méektáankaajil jo’.

Abstract

For centuries, pozol — a beverage made from corn — was an essential part of the daily life of the maya people; moreover, it represented the connection to the land, history, community, and collective memory. However, today its value gradually diminished as a result of the dietary transition driven by globalization, which has contributed to an erosion of cultural identity. Therefore, this qualitative and ethnographic study describes the perceptions of the decline in pozol consumption among older adults, adults, and adolescents in Merida, Yucatan, through semi-structured interviews and a focus group. The findings show that its consumption has considerably decreased, especially among young people, who do not associate it with memories or meaningful connections. In contrast, older adults remember it with nostalgia, although their current consumption is limited to specific occasions. These findings reflect how generational changes have contributed to the displacement of pozol from the daily diet, favoring the loss of cultural food identity.