Guinea Pig Eating Peru

Some environmental and humanitarian groups are making a real push to encourage guinea pig farming as an.

Guinea pig eating peru. Top chefs in peru. Cultivated by the incas in the andes for centuries the guinea pig was cheaper to raise and required less room to farm than pigs and cattle. A traditional food guinea pig called cuy in peru has been served whole on special occasions since inca times. Peruvians don t keep them as pets.

In fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru. There s local cuisine and then there s ultra local cuisine. That s a lot of guinea pig. In peru you can t get anything more quintessential local than grilled guinea pig.

Believe it or not guinea pigs originated in the andean region colombia ecuador bolivia and peru and were originally raised specifically for eating. Guinea pigs are also high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol. The number of cuy that a family owned was indicative of their social status. Guinea pigs are popular pets in the u s but in parts of south america they re a delicacy.

There s now even an annual festival in the town of huacho where guinea pigs are dressed up and judged in various categories including fattest and best dressed there s even a fashion show. In peru it s estimated that some 65 million guinea pigs are consumed each year. The growing popularity of guinea pig meat in high end restaurants in peru is helping to usher in the return of a traditional and environmentally friendly industry led by women. Eating guinea pigs in peru was once the food of the nobles only enjoyed by the upper echelon of society.

Guinea pigs are cute and cuddly and eating one is like eating your pet dog.