Turismo Miño
Galicia, land of excellent gastronomy
Galicia has always shown a particular devotion to gastronomy. The area of As Mariñas and the Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo Biosphere Reserve, to which Miño belongs, are a clear example of this, with the excellence of its vegetable garden and the onion and cabbage as the star products of the region.
2022, the year of the XXI edition
Miño has been celebrating the Feira da Cebola Chata de Miño uninterruptedly since 2002,
year in which its first edition was celebrated. And the publication of the book A Cebola Chata de Miño was presented. A work that gathers the properties and singularities of this vegetable. A local product which, due to its quality, is honoured in a hundred thousand ways.
The Xunta de Galicia has given it the denomination of an autochthonous variety that is recognised as the cebola chata or plate onion. It is considered irreplaceable by gastronomic specialists, who praise its qualities, including its tender flavour, its balanced acidity and a slightly spicy finish. It is ideal for the preparation of Bolo Mariñeiro (link), or various stews. Bakers consider it invaluable in pies, grateful that it does not moisten the dough.
This autochthonous variety stands out for its precocity and its good conservation. It arrives on the market when other areas do not yet have any product. With traditional storage, it can be consumed over a longer period. It is easily recognisable by the shape of its bulb, wider than tall, which characterises it and gives it its name.
A poster with a lovely story
This year's poster for the XXI Feira da Cebola Chata de Miño was created with great care, as its authors come from a family with an onion tradition. They were inspired, through geometric and organic shapes, by the different stages of cultivation of the onion plant. The reading begins at the bottom left, with a girl planting the onion, and continues with the beautiful spheres of its flower. In the upper part we see the sieve that separates the seed, to finish with the artisan's hands making the art of plaiting the onions. All under the rigorous heat of the summer sun, the blue of the sea and the sky in the background. A magical and graphic story that shows us the complete cycle of the onion. It makes you want to frame it!.
The typical enristrado of onions
The annual feira takes place on the first weekend of August, mostly on Sunday, although there have been editions with a full weekend. It is held in the centre of Miño, along the market street, which is pedestrianised during the event, until the end at the pistas del Rabazal, where a large event marquee is set up.
The event brings together around twenty producers, the majority of which are producers of onions. Other seasonal products from the local market garden such as tomatoes, cabbages, potatoes, honey and cheese are also on offer.
From ten o'clock in the morning, the stalls of local producers proudly display their traditional Miño onion strings. Enristrado is a traditional art that braids the onions for better ventilation and preservation. It can be made in plaits or in moñicos which with a greater number of onions and more compact, barely leave the plaiting visible.
Onion handicrafts
At the end of the street, reaching the Pistas de Rabazal, there are the craft stalls: candles, ceramics, baskets made of different natural fibres, costume jewellery... Many of the craftsmen use the flat onion of Miño as inspiration, giving it a nod with their art, achieving exceptional results: fans, aprons, bags, notebooks... Our flat onion looks splendid!
The Dicocleta - discobike
This year, in the XXI edition of the Feira da Cebola Chata de Miño 2022, the programme was full of activities.
The parade of the Discoteca del Señor Lili enlivened the feira with lots of music, jokes and fun bubbles that flooded everything. A show that surprised us all and made us laugh.
Painting in real time
In the marquee of the Pistas de Rabazal, once again this year, we enjoyed the live performance of a ceboleira-inspired painting. Jose Luis Porta Ramos made a work in real time for the occasion, surrounded by the exhibition set up with the works of all the previous years. A real luxury.
Miño and Pobla de Valbona, twinned by the onion
At 12.30 p.m., the mayor addressed some nice words of thanks to all the participants and proceeded to the beginning of the twinning with the representatives of the town council of La Pobla de Valbona (Valencian Community), with an exchange of gifts and an exaltation of the two fairs of this great vegetable that are celebrated in both municipalities.
The Bolo Mariñeiro with the local produce
We continued with a cooking demonstration by Antonio Amenedo, who highlighted the many virtues of this food and its incredible properties, while detailing the preparation of the successful Bolo Mariñeiro de Miño. His tasting caused a sensation
The Branca Lexítima grape
Alejandro Paadin then came on stage to exalt the perfect pairing with a white wine, IXP (Protected Geographical Indication) "Viño da Terra de Betanzos", made with Branca Lexítima, Godello and Agudelo grapes, a perfect combination!.
Vermouth session
The vermouth session was starred by the band SonBoleros, a music that made us dance and enjoy during the midday.
Popular lunch
The Club Naútico de Miño was in charge of the churrasco grills and the mussels, at popular prices. Numerous Miñenses opted for this comfortable outdoor option.
Onion stranding and basketry workshop
The workshops or obradoiros were very crowded. The ceboleiras teachers showed us their skill with the enristrado, imitated by their advanced pupils, what beautiful scenes of traditional legacy between generations! The basketry with reed also enjoyed great admiration from apprentices and the general public.
Empanada tasting
The tasting of empanada with a base of flat onion from Miño, started around seven o'clock, what a variety: roxóns con queixo (cracklings with cheese), mussels, cod with sultanas, chicken with mushrooms, zorza, octopus, xoubas (small sardines), meat and tuna.
Moving the hips
Gramola Ye-Yé put the icing on the cake. well-known party songs to move the hips intensely.
Towards the XXII edition
An agenda, that of the Feira da cebola de Miño, to relax and enjoy during the whole day of exaltation of local and traditional product. The next first weekend of August 2023 we will celebrate the 22nd edition, we count on you!
