Guinea Pig Eating Peru

Peruvians don t keep them as pets.

Guinea pig eating peru. History of guinea pigs believe it or not guinea pigs originated in the andean region colombia ecuador bolivia and peru and were originally raised specifically for eating. Traditional baked guinea pig though not all visitors to peru are keen to eat it this way jaime pesaque is the owner of mayta a high end restaurant in upmarket lima. People have compared its taste to chicken rabbit or duck. That s a lot of guinea pig.

At this roadside food stand and many others like it in rural peru the house specialty is roasted guinea pig to go. You may be able to find them in restaurants located around cusco for curious tourists such as yourself. 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. Top chefs in peru.

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. Considered a delicacy and usually only meant to be eaten on special occasions. There s even a fashion show. Guinea pigs are cute and cuddly and eating one is like eating your pet dog.

Eating guinea pigs in peru was once the food of the nobles only enjoyed by the upper echelon of society. In fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru. This video was shot in ollantaytambo peru. It wasn t until the spanish came and started sending guinea pigs to europe that the furry creatures were treated as pets.

A traditional food guinea pig called cuy in peru has been served whole on special occasions since inca times. It s estimated that indigenous people in the andes mountains have been eating domesticated cuy pronounced kwee since 5000 bc. The number of cuy that a family owned was indicative of their social status. It s part of the culture of peru but could you eat this furry pet.

Join myself and travis as we try eating peru s delicacy guinea pig also known as cuy. But did you know in peru guinea pigs aren t bred as pets but as livestock meant to be eaten. Guinea pigs are also high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol. 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.

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. He buys about 200 organically.