Guinea Pig Peru Food

In peru you can t get anything more quintessential local than grilled guinea pig.

Guinea pig peru food. Most people see them as fluffy adorable pets but in peru guinea pigs or cuy as they are known locally are a delicacy. 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. History of guinea pigs. Guinea pig cuy is a delicacy that is very typically associated with typical peruvian cuisine but it is also eaten throughout other countries of south america such as ecuador colombia and bolivia.

Believe it or not guinea pigs originated in the andean region colombia ecuador bolivia and peru and were originally raised specifically for eating. They are very friendly and have no tendency to bite or scratch. Statues dating from circa 500 bc to 500 ad that depict guinea pigs have been unearthed in archaeological digs in peru and ecuador. The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig cavia porcellus also called domestic cavy or simply cavy is a species of rodent happiness to the family caviidae and the genus cavia.

In the past few years their. By sorrel moseley william s september 25 2014. Cuy one of peru s most famous dishes is not for the faint of heart. Cuy s esteem is reflected in its price which at 25 peruvian soles is about three times what you can expect to pay for an average dinner but how often does one.

The peruvian guinea pig dish cuy is mostly served on special occasions rather than as a meal eaten regularly but is readily available for adventurous tourists to try in restaurants or at. Guinea pigs are cute and cuddly and eating one is like eating your pet dog. Remember that even dogs are eaten in many countries and guinea pigs have been a source of nutritious food for the inca for centuries. The guinea pig or cuy in peru is a luxury reserved only for the most decadent of occasions and since i had spent the past four days oozing blood sweat and tears on the unforgiving inca trail it only seemed appropriate.

It s fried or roasted guinea pig and it s a peruvian delicacy. The guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 bc for food by tribes in the andean region of south america the present day southern part of colombia ecuador peru and bolivia some thousands of years after the domestication of the south american camelids. It wasn t until the spanish came and started sending guinea pigs to europe that the furry creatures were treated as pets. Media caption inside a guinea pig farm.

The little furry rodent became a pet in europe and then the. A traditional food guinea pig called cuy in peru has been served whole on special occasions since inca times.