10 Foods to Try in Peru

Cheers Travelers! This post comes to you while enjoying a Pisco Sour, an amazing cocktail recommended by my friend Tiffany of Live, Love & Voyage.   Tiffany just recently returned from Peru and had some great cocktails and local dishes to try! Below are Tif's post with amazing Peruvian suggestions! Enjoy!

Traveling to Peru?
Food Enthusiast?
These are your Must try Peru Foods.Peru is a huge country. It has some of the most ancient cultures and the population is very multiethnic. Much of the population is based on the coast, due to the resources from the ocean and due to the multiethnic varieties in the country, there are many Peru foods you must try, starting with these ten.

Must Try Peru Beverages:
1. Pisco Sour:This Peruvian alcoholic beverage uses the Peruvian Pisco as the base liquor, lime juice, simple syrup and one egg white. On top they do a dash of Angostura bitters.  Made in the region of Peru and Chile, Peruvian pisco is a yellowish colored brandy and wasn't until the last ten years that people were able to buy pisco in the United States. Tourists can buy pisco at any bar or restaurant in Peru.

2. 15+ Ingredient Drink:Tourist won't find this drink in any bar or restaurant, they will have to find it at one of the street vendors along the side walks of Lima and Cusco. They name off health benefits and serve it warm and thick.
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3. Inca Kola:Inca Cola is nothing like the coca-cola you can get elsewhere. It is a yellow colored soft drink that has a fruity-taste. Tourists can buy this popular drink at convenience stores, on plane rides and restaurants.

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​Must Try Peru Foods:
4. Cuy:Cuy is not something that you would see much of in the United States, but it is very popular in the Andes Reagion. Yes, Cuy is Guinea pig. Guinea pig is most commonly found in the street markets or vendors in the city. Tourists will find it either baked or barbecued, head on, with a small game taste. This is one animal you would need a side with, a lot of little bones and not much meat.

5. Ceviche:Peru's National Food! Ceviche, meaning "fresh fish", is very popular in the Capital city, Lima. This fresh fish can come as soup or mixed with fresh ingredients. Find this in all restaurants and plenty of street vendors.

6. Anticuchos:Anticuchos (meat skewers) are found at many restaurants as appetizers or main dishes, these skewers are also popular with the street vendors. It can be any meat skewers, the most common being cow heart skewers. This practice was first developed from Peruvian slaves that were given the 'scrapes' of the animals, being the organs.

7. Peruvian potatoes:Peruvian potatoes have been a huge staple dating back to the Chile and Peru war. The potatoes are used in so many ways, but one way you may see is called Causa. It is a cut, cold potatoe layered with many different ingredients. People may find them at restaurants as a side or an entree with meat mixed in.

8. Choclo:Choclo, aka Peruvian Corn, is a large kernel corn that is grown in the Andes. The corn not as sweet as sweet corn and has more of a starchy taste. You can find this in restaurants as a side, on the street corners as corn on the cob or, my favorite way, given to you for free when you sit down at restaurants, toasted and salted.

9. Alpaca:Alpaca, very popular in the Andes Region, are very similar to llamas but smaller in nature. When cooked it is very lean and similar to buffalo meat. People can find in restaurants and bought as jerky, for a snack.
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10. Suspiro a la Limena:Suspiro a la Limena is one of Peru's delights. The name comes from, the romantic, poet Jose Galvez meaning 'sigh of a Lima lady'. This dessert is very sweet and a mix of dulce de leche, caramelized sugar and smooth meringue. Served beautifully in individual dishes.
Peru has so many reasons it won't disappoint. The activities, the sites and the food all combine for a once and a lifetime visit. While you are there, you must try these Peru Foods.

• Much more than Machu Picchu
• Huacachina Expectations

What Peru Foods would you add to this list?

Tif is the creator of Live, Love, & Voyage to document her travels and share her stories. She loves the off beaten track & the adventures of the traveling lifestyle. When she isn’t traveling to a new state or country she is exploring locally in Minnesota, USA. Visit Live, Love & Voyage today to see where your next adventure should be.

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