Long before it became one of the largest artisan markets in Latin America, this plaza was part of an Andean trading network where Kichwa communities exchanged textiles, food, tools, and dyes across the highlands. When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, Indigenous artisans were pushed into colonial workshops or sent to build colonial cities like Quito, but families continued traditional crafts in their homes, preserving techniques, patterns, and knowledge that has existed for centuries. Over time,

Artisan Cheesemaking 101: A Beginner's Guide