Guinea Pig Food In Peru

If you find yourself in peru look for a cuyería cuy restaurant where the typical dish is roasted guinea pig cuy al horno.

Guinea pig food in peru. At the guinea pig festival of huacho in peru people dress the furry rodents in cute costumes before cooking and eating them as part of the celebration contact about. Guinea pig in peru. Cusco is your best. The thoughts of eating a rodent or a pet may seem repulsive to some.

This past december i had the opportunity to travel in a two week immersive exchange to peru. It s not worth it. Instead they are a traditional and important source of protein in the andes where they are known as cuy pronounced coo ee named after the sound the animal makes guinea pig meat was an important part of the pre colonial diet in peru way before the europeans introduced chicken pigs and cows to south america and it has. Cuy reared for pets weigh an average of 750g while breeds reared for.

In peru it s estimated that some 65 million. But of the 20 breeds of guinea pig that exist in peru only three are bred for meat. Posted on august 15 2018 march 26 2020 by nikki scott. Food drink eating guinea pig in peru.

The fried version cuy chactado is tastier because well fried food is always tastier. Talara was filled with beautiful beaches in the midst of canyons. We spent two days in talara before traveling to cuzco. While it might seem unconventional to tuck into furry critters better known as domesticated pets in the west.

The other breeds are exported as pets. Don t leave peru without trying cuy pronounced kwee which is guinea pig. Most people see them as fluffy adorable pets but in peru guinea pigs or cuy as they are known locally are a delicacy. Guinea pig or cuy in spanish is the second most popular source of meat in the andes alpaca being the first.

Fortunately the guinea pig is high in protein low in cholesterol and when bought at a roadside grill low in cost. As you might have guessed guinea pigs are not beloved pets in peru. The cooking method and how you eat cuy are personal choices but it s worth following the lead of the locals. While there we spent the first three days in lima before traveling to talara in the north of peru.

Keep the travel dream alive in lockdown join our newsletter. Media caption inside a guinea pig farm. Lamay peru home of the bbq guinea pig. The town of lamay in the sacred valley of peru is known for its many guinea pig eateries called cuyerias.

Do it it s delicious. Our recommended travel resources. We were in cuzco for three days we explored villages. I hesitate to call them restaurants as they are mainly outdoor family affairs.