Could Peru, its ingredients, and its culture inspire you to take a culinary adventure?
“There are so many products in Peru that are unfamiliar to people in the States. When you eat this food, it’s not like, Well, this is something like … It’s not “kind of like” anything. It’s really awesome,” Anthony Bourdain
Peru has an extraordinary geographical location, right on the Humboldt Current, where this cold stream of water produces a gigantic amount and variety of fish. Then it has the tropical jungle of the Amazon River, and then the frigid high Andean plateau. Nestled in the Pacific shoulder of South America, the country encompasses a huge variety of climates and terrains from mountains to the jungle to the temperate coastline.
Peru has one of the great cuisines of the world. It is the original fusion food, having absorbed influences from almost every continent over the last 500 years and blend them with ingredients and dishes that provide a direct link to the pre-Columbian cultures of Peru.
When the Spanish conquered the Incas, they brought with them their Arabic heritage (think of the spices) and African influences (with the slaves). If you add to that the influence of Chinese and Italian cuisine that came with 19th-century migration, you get some tasty food. Thus, Peruvian food consists of all kinds of meats, seafood, spices, vegetables, carbs, and dairy products from all around the world. At the same time, many of these ingredients only grow in Peru, like aji Amarillo (Peruvian yellow pepper), which is present in most dishes and give it a characteristic flavor.
There is no discussion that Peru has amazing food. Everyone in Peru knows this, and many people outside come to Peru just for the food. You may think this is subjective, but it’s not: Peru has been named the “World’s Leading Culinary Destination” in 2019 by the World Travel Awards. In fact, Peru has won this award eight years in a row.
The mixture of great ingredients with a variety of influences is what makes Peruvian food so tasty.
So, taking a food tour in Lima is the perfect way to get an insider’s perspective on how locals eat and where they go. You’ll learn about local customs while tasting dishes at restaurants you might otherwise have overlooked. The benefits of going on a food tour with someone who knows about the area’s culinary culture are endless. They involve gaining more detailed information about the specific area, being confident in the quality of the locations you visit and having the optimal experience.
Are you ready to travel for food? Visit us in Lima to get started with your first food tour! At Lima Tasty Tours, we are happy to help you experience the best food that Peru has to offer!
