Sweets and desserts of Paraíba tradition

The pastel de carne com açúcar became intangible heritage in 2024, amid praise and criticism, alongside sweets from the Cariri region.

The most talked-about sweet in Paraíba in recent years is savory: pastel de carne com açúcar (meat pastry with sugar), also called pastel de festa. The State Legislative Assembly approved on April 23, 2024, Bill No. 1,388/2023, by state representative Tovar Correia Lima (PSDB), declaring it intangible cultural heritage of the state. The Jornal da Paraíba reported that Governor João Azevêdo signed the measure into law on May 17, 2024.

The dish gained national attention after singer Juliette Freire, winner of Big Brother Brasil 2020, named it as her favorite Paraíba food. The decision was controversial: the Jornal da Paraíba itself noted that the pastel also appears in other Northeastern states, such as Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte, and state representative Cida Ramos (PT) pointed out that dishes of Indigenous and quilombola origin also deserved recognition. Anyone who tastes it in Paraíba, therefore, finds a local delicacy recognized by law, but not exclusive to the state. The historical origin of the pastel is told differently by the press, and has not been confirmed.

In semiarid dairy products, doce de leite appears among the derivatives valued by the Goat Farming Route, launched in February 2026 in the Cariri region by Sebrae/PB and the State Government, alongside yogurt, coalhada and liqueur.

On João Pessoa's menus, cartola, made with banana and cheese, appears among the recurring dishes cited in a Jornal da Paraíba guide from January 2024. Cartola, however, is registered as heritage of Pernambuco, and no journalistic source was found about its history in Paraíba. Mangai, according to Paraíba Business, maintains a dessert section in its buffet in João Pessoa.