Guinea Pig Eaten Peru

Guinea pigs bred for foodare eaten once they have reached a couple of months old.

Guinea pig eaten peru. 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. Guinea pigs are also high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol. 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. In fact guinea pigs were so valuable that they could be used to barter for other items if the family didn t have any spare cash.

He buys about 200 organically. Looking like three blind mice i was anxious to try guinea pig. Eating cuy or guinea pig in peru. In fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually 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. January 10 2018 by harold hall. It s fried or roasted guinea pig and it s a peruvian delicacy. The number of cuy that a family owned was indicative of their social status.

Peruvians even declared a national holiday every second friday in october to celebrate the guinea pig. Top chefs in peru. Eating cuy is such a tradition in fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru that there are festivals celebrating the humble beast with contests for the best dressed largest and of course best tasting guinea pig. Eating guinea pigs in peru was once the food of the nobles only enjoyed by the upper echelon of society.

Cuy dishes form part of the novoandina new andean cuisine movement but most regions in peru will have their own recipe. So given the chance to once again try this unique local cuisine in peru i jumped at the opportunity. Updated march 26th 2020. Cuy one of peru s most famous dishes is not for the faint of heart.

Better yet our peruvian cab driver let. Don t leave peru without trying cuy pronounced kwee which. That s a lot of guinea pig. After a recent photography trip to ecuador i was disappointed to have missed out eating their national dish guinea pig.

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.