The Peruvian Eats and Drinks You Need to Experience When Visiting Peru

Peru was a unique place, with so many incredible dishes. We learned that while Peru was colonized by Europeans, the food was still heavily influenced by the Incan Empire.

Something we always commit to when traveling is to be open minded and try local dishes, even if they’re not the first thing we’d pick from the menu. Peru gave us the opportunity to try some new things that we hadn’t considered eating before and we wanted to share them with you!

Ceviche

One of the first things we tried was ceviche from a local market in Cusco. We were accustomed to needing to heat an animal product in order for it to be considered “cooked”, but ceviche uses the acid in lemon or other citrus fruits in order to break down the proteins. This process leaves behind the delicate flavors of the fish and is complemented well by the onions and chili peppers it is often served with.

We also had the opportunity to make our own ceviche at the end of the trip. It was straightforward and quick to make. We loved being able to test out our own creation!

Potatoes

Peru is the home of the potato, where they began domesticating the tuber thousands of years ago. Today there are nearly four thousand varieties of potatoes that originated in the region of Peru. We learned that they used elevation differences in the mountains to adapt potatoes to new climates and ensure they could be grown in more locations.

Because of this heritage, you will find that potatoes are served along with nearly every meal you order. We found that different styles of potatoes are served with different meals, and we enjoyed trying them all!

Tamales

Tamales can be found all throughout both Central and South America, and Peru did not disappoint. While we are used to corn being the base for tamales, we tried a Peruvian version that we loved! These were made with quinoa which had such great flavor.

We also were able to make our own tamales! We enjoyed the challenge of learning how to pack and wrap the corn husks just right to make the perfect tamale.

Guinea Pig

We know what you’re thinking.. “You ate a guinea pig!?” Like we said in the intro, we’re always interested in eating like locals and eating what the people of the culture eat. Guinea pig is considered a delicacy in Peru and was historically eaten during celebrations and other special occasions. Guinea pigs are not considered pets in Peru and are raised specifically to be eaten.

We found that while it is a bit oily, the meat itself does taste good. Ours were roasted on a stick over an open fire at a roadside cafe. In addition to the meat itself, we also tried a dish that consisted of guinea pig intestines that were stuffed with potatoes and other vegetables. These were surprisingly appetizing once you got past the mental block of eating intestine.

We highly recommend trying even just a bite of guinea pig when visiting Peru. It’s a unique experience that you won’t forget!

Pisco Sour

Pisco is a spirit that is distilled in Peru from grapes and originated as an alternative to importing brandy. The pisco sour is the flagship drink to experience the delights of pisco. A pisco sour is made with pisco, lime juice, egg white, and simple syrup. Once shaken together it creates a luxuriously smooth and foamy drink that combines perfectly with the bite of the lime.

We found ourselves ordering these everywhere we went. Our excuse was so that we could perform research on where the best Pisco Sour might be located in Peru. We found some great ones, but can’t wait to go back and continue gathering data points!

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To wrap up, we really enjoyed trying such a wide variety of Peruvian cuisine. To us it’s always fun to try new things and learn more about a culture through the food they eat. We hope this inspires you to step out and try something new; whether it’s in Peru, a different destination, or even your own home-town.