Peru, a magical and millenary country, has a diversity and an unusual economy in the world and offers the visitor endless alternatives and the possibility of living a unique experience: History, culture, nature, adventure, and much more in one destination. Many blogs talk about trips or tours that you can take to know Peru, but this blog will talk to you about the main products that you can find in Peru.
GASTRONOMIC PRODUCTS.
Quinoa dishes:
Considered the grain of gold. The General Assembly of the United Nations declared this 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa, one of our star Andean grains. Ancestral food, nutritional input, was in pre-Hispanic times one of the most important inputs along with the potato in the Peruvian diet. According to data from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), this Andean plant originated in the surroundings of Lake Titicaca, shared by Peru and Bolivia -where the greatest diversity and genetic variation are found, and that its domestication could have occurred between 3,000 and 5,000 years before Christ. It also indicates that quinoa grows naturally in the Andean region from Colombia to northern Argentina and southern Chile, being the largest producers in the Bolivia and Peru region. However, its cultivation has spread to the world. The United States is also a great producer of valued grain. In France, England, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Italy also cultivate it, as well as Canada, Kenya, and northern India. Regarding the nutritional value, it is known that it is good food for children and athletes (it has a high protein value), diabetics (contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which lowers blood cholesterol), celiac (contains very little gluten), and people with lactose intolerance. It has more minerals than cereals (it's content of vitamin B and C is higher than that of wheat) and is rich in fiber. It also acts as an antioxidant. Here are some Peruvian dishes are done with quinoa:
- Quinoa with chicken and vegetables.
- Quinoa salad.
- Quinoa with pork and zucchini.
- Quinoa and orange cookies.
- Tabulé of Quinoa.
- Quinoa salad and green leaves.
- Chicken and Quinoa Salad.
- Scrambled eggs of wild asparagus with Quinoa.
Pisco is Peru:
Proud of our gastronomic legacy, we can affirm that Pisco is Peru for all the flavor, tradition, and history that transmits our flag drink, expressing a cultural diversity that welcomes and surprises you. The name Pisco derives from the port and valley called Pisco, located in southern Peru, where the brandy was shipped to Spain for the first time, in the sixteenth century. Pisco also evokes the great diversity of birds of the south, among which the parihuanas, the huerequeque, the Carcillo, and the condor stand out because the word PISCO comes from the Quechua term Pisccu which means, bird. The best Pisco brands are:
- BarSol Pisco
- Primer Quebranta Macchu Pisco
- Quebranta Tabernero Italia
- De la Motta Italia
- Piscologia Pisco Acholado
- Santiago Queirolo Acholado
- Campo de Encanto Grand & Noble Acholado
- La Diablada
- Pisco Porton
Aguaymanto:
The aguaymanto is a fruit native to the Peruvian Andes. It was cultivated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and its consumption was reserved for the Inca nobility. Thanks to its nutritional properties, bittersweet taste, and pleasant smell, it has conquered several markets in the European Union and the United States. It is also a powerful antioxidant with high levels of vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Therefore, it is perfect to strengthen the immune system. It is also an ingredient in gourmet cuisine and international cocktails.
Camu camu:
The camu camu is a small Amazonian fruit that has large amounts of vitamin C, superior to other traditional citrus fruits such as lemon or orange. For this reason, the camu-camu has a great antioxidant capacity, regenerates the tissues of the organism, helps to prevent colds, and also allows to absorb iron from vegetable foods. The commercialization of this superfood contributes to the sustainable development of the Amazonian communities that cultivate it, thus maintaining their ancestral customs.
The Kiwicha:
The kiwicha is a cereal native to Peru that has been cultivated since ancient times. Due to its high nutritional, energetic, and medicinal content, it was considered by the Incas as a blessing of Mother Earth. This fabulous Peruvian grain contains 10 essential amino acids for the organism such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins A and C, and twice as much calcium as milk. The National Academy of Sciences of the United States defined the kiwicha as "the best food of vegetable origin for human consumption", also the World Health Organization and the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture have highlighted its high protein concentration.
Peruvian handicrafts:
Alpaca clothing :
T-shirts, caps, scarves, and blankets are lasting souvenirs you'll find in markets and stores. Alpaca products are just as insulating as cashmere, they are also lightweight, hypoallergenic, and best of all, they do not sting. Baby alpaca clothing is made from the first cut of your wool, which is extremely soft. Many products are promoted as 100% alpaca baby, but most likely they are mixtures of alpaca wool or even acrylic or synthetic fibers. If you want the real product, leave the markets aside and visit the boutiques where prices reflect quality. Arequipa and Cusco are where many of the products are made and if you are passing by, it will be the best place to buy.
Textile:
The traditional Peruvian clothing and products from slippers to handbags are made of the most radiant and colorful textiles. There are a lot of beautiful fabrics for sale in local markets that you can buy such as tablecloths or pillowcases. At the moment of leaving Peru, you may already be imagining yourself in the perfect picture that goes according to the fabrics you will buy for your home.
Extra Info: The Peruvian traditional textile was recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), as a source of identity and cultural heritage of the American peoples, and a tribute was paid to the weavers of the Americas who meet in
Cusco. This recognition was given during the Meeting of Weavers of the Americas, which is a space for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and coexistence between weavers and students of textile art on the continent.
Chullos:
A chullo is an Andean style hat with earflaps that you can tie under the chin. These hats are made of vicuna wool, alpaca, llama, or sheep and are a practical accessory when you are going through the heights of the
Colca Canyon or the Andes. The miniature chullos can be used as a cute keychain or bottle stopper for Pisco. We call Chullo the cap used by the high Andean inhabitants of Peru with certain characteristics, colors, and shapes of each region. Usually, the Chullos are made with Alpaca wool or sheep wool. The Alpaca is an animal with a fine print, harmonious in its walk, with a slender body covered with fiber, which is called fleece as a whole. It has plantar pads, a characteristic that gives it the status of an ecological animal, by not damaging the grass, or causing erosion.
Backpacks:
If you need space to store all the small assets of your trip to Peru, a new backpack is an answer. You can find many backpacks made of traditional textiles or invest a little more in hiking or travel bags that are for sale in trekking shops. The canvas bags also come in traditional designs and we saw a couple of people at the airport making good use of the bags.
Paintings:
Perhaps the best way to remember your trip to Peru is by taking a painting to your home so that you can admire it every day. Women in their native dresses remain as a good image as the unique landscape of Machu Picchu. Visit one of the many galleries or visit one of the many street vendors selling impressions around the Main Square in Cusco.
Musical instruments:
Peruvian music is beautiful to listen to and has Andean, Spanish and African influence. If you lean towards music, you may want to take a new instrument home. Choose from a wooden flute, zampoña composed of 11 wooden pipes, a drum, or play the 10-string charango.
Altarpiece:
The altarpieces are bright wooden boxes that represent religious, historical, or daily events that are important for Peruvians. The delicate figures inside the boxes sometimes appear on two levels: the upper level symbolizes the sky and sacred Andean animals, while at the lower level it symbolizes life on earth. The sizes and prices are varied as are the scenes they contain.
Painted stones:
The form of traditional Peruvian art also known as 'mates burilados', dates back more than 3,500 years. Stones tell a story of customs, culture, people, history, and animals. Hang them on your Christmas tree or use them as decorative pieces around your house.
Weaving:
Weaving is a skill that is passed from generation to generation. The designs, colors, and quality of fabrics vary from region to region. Many of the pieces reflect native beliefs and designs such as the Inca Cross and sacred animals shown here. You can find headbands, carpets, wall ornaments, and more.
Bull of Pucara:
The Pucara bulls are given as wedding gifts to Peruvian couples. If you look closely at the ceilings in Peru you may see a couple of these bulls that are believed to bring fertility, prosperity, joy, and protection to the home. If you would like to wish the same luck to someone you know, then you will want to take home a colorful bull of your own.
Ekeko, the god of prosperity:
Ekeko is the god of abundance, prosperity, and good fortune. Instead of buying one for yourself, you should give it to someone to whom you wish success. Small offerings to god are what the person expects
As you can see, you have many options, if you are thinking to come you can not miss the opportunity to know the principal craft centers as Pisaq market. We hope that our blog has been very helpful.
YOU CAN FIND SOME CRAFT MARKETS IN:
