Worldly Style: Soapstone Cooking and Home Accents

Mercado Central Belo Horizonte by Lori RiceThe state of Minas Gerais in Brazil is known for pedra sabão, soapstone. If you happen to find yourself in the Mercado Central in the city of Belo Horizonte you will come across handcrafted pieces of cookware that are both decorative and functional. Pots range in sizes and you will easily find one to fit your needs whether you cook for two or ten. Styles vary too, some with copper handles, some without, others oval and shallow and still others round and deep.

The pots can be purchased unseasoned featuring a natural soapstone coloring and must be oiled and baked before use at which point they turn completely black. Pre-seasoned pots are also available. A handy tool, the insulating power of the stone will keep hot foods warm and cold foods cool for up to four hours. The best news is that a large, two quart pot will only set you back about 30 USD.

The bad news is that these suckers are heavy! Unless you can fit and lift them in a carry-on it might be a better idea to ship them home. Although I will say that one large pot was not too much for this traveler to handle as a carry-on, but my options for buying much more during my trip were limited.

If the weight of a big pot leaves you uneasy, you can still find all kinds of gifts and trinkets made of soapstone. Travel about an hour and half outside Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto to get a history lesson in Brazilian culture and shop to your heart’s content at the market in the center of town.

Soapstone from Ouro Preto by Lori Rice

Local artists display soapstone in various shapes and colors. Chess sets, coasters and miniature jewelry boxes are just a few of the special pieces you will find. Each is carved or painted with intricate patterns making them unique in design. While fragile, these smaller keepsakes are much easier to travel with and you can easily bargain with the seller getting two small jewelry boxes for 5 USD. That’s quite a steal for handmade art.