Peru Food and Drink
Food
Due to the variety of landscapes and geography found in Peru, cuisine differs depending on the region and it is considered one of the most diverse cuisines in Latin America. Many dishes in Peru incorporate influences from both indigenous traditions and from the Spanish who came to the country during the 16th century. Hot and spicy in nature, the food of Peru depends heavily on vegetables (there are over 2,000 types of potatoes alone in the country). Food on the coast is naturally characterized by seafood and shellfish while common dishes in the highlands usually consist of meat with rice and potatoes. Fresh fruit is a staple for those dishes that come from the jungle. Chicken is very popular (Chicken is a serious export industry)
Popular dishes include:
Ceviche: This dish is popular on the coast and consists of raw fish and shellfish that are marinated in either lemon or lime juice, flavoured with hot chilli peppers and served with raw onions, sweet potatoes and corn.
Escabeche: This fish dish is traditionally served with peppers, eggs, olives, onions and prawns.
Lomo saltado: This meal, usually eaten in the highlands, is made up of strips of beef that are cooked with onions, tomatoes, peppers and potatoes then served with rice as an accompaniment.
Causa relleña: Traditionally these potato cakes are served with chicken in the centre, however other variations that include avocado or crabmeat are also available.
Cuy: This dish is a guinea pig and is considered a delicacy in various parts of Peru.
Aji de Gallina: This dish consists of spicy creamed chicken a bright yellow dish (due to the aji amarillo peppers) that is served with a sauce made from ground walnuts. Boiled yellow potatoes and olives often accompany it.
Drink
Popular Peruvian beers include Cusqueña from Cusco and Arequipeña from Arequipa, while Pilsen is also widely available. For a more traditional Peruvian spirit, there is Pisco, a white-grape brandy that comes from an indigenous recipe. Chich, often served warm, is made from maize and has a tangy taste. A well-known nonalcoholic drink is chica Morada. This purple drink made from blue corn is often served as an accompaniment to ceviche. When visiting Peru, it is advisable to avoid drinking tap water.
Things to know:
A service charge of 10% is often added to bills, however, in more formal restaurants an additional tip of between 5-10% is often expected.
Drinking age:
18.
Peru Travel Information
At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Peru.
Learn about the history and culture of Peru, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Peru's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Peru for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Peru tours today!
Extend Your Trip
After your Peru Vacation Packages, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours? These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.
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LATIN AMERICA by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Peru tours and experiences. Choose from a simple city stopover, a small group tour, a cruise on the Amazon, a lodge stay in the Andes, a Holiday of a Lifetime and much more. We want to be your first choice when next you go globetrotting to Peru.
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