Guinea Pig Eating 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.

Guinea pig eating peru. Guinea pigs are also high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol. Guinea pigs are popular pets in the u s but in parts of south america they re a delicacy. 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 cute and cuddly and eating one is like eating your pet dog.

What they are is a delicious delicacy best served with potatoes and salsa. In peru you can t get anything more quintessential local than grilled guinea pig. There s local cuisine and then there s ultra local cuisine. In fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru.

Some environmental and humanitarian groups are making a real push to encourage guinea pig farming as an. 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. It wasn t until the spanish came and started sending guinea pigs to europe that the furry creatures were treated as pets. In peru it s estimated that some 65 million guinea pigs are consumed each year.

Eating guinea pigs in peru was once the food of the nobles only enjoyed by the upper echelon of society. A traditional food guinea pig called cuy in peru has been served whole on special occasions since inca times. The number of cuy that a family owned was indicative of their social status. Top chefs in peru.

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.