Newsletter September 2007

The people of Churín, in the Huaura Province of Peru, hold two annual festivals.  The Maca Festival celebrates maca, an aphrodisiac food native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. The Cuy Festival celebrates the cuy, or guinea pig, an important Peruvian food and cultural icon. The festivities include contests for the biggest, the best-dressed and the tastiest.

Cuy is very tasty and nutritious. Some liken the taste to that of rabbit. The meat is high in protein and vitamins, and low in fat. According to estimates, Peruvians eat almost 65 million guinea pigs a year.

Big boy.

Although the delicious food is the main attraction, it’s not the only one to put a smile on people’s faces. The prize for the biggest cuy went to a big and furry 8-pounder, truly massive for the small rodents. There was also the fashion show, where guinea pigs were dressed up in traditional Andean dress, fedoras and frilly skirts.

Fashion show participants looking very cute.

The cuy has been an important symbol in Peru since the time of the Incas. Some churches in Lima and Cuzco still display Indian depictions of the Last Supper with Jesus and the 12 disciples eating roasted guinea pig.

“Zero cholesterol! Protein for anemia!” shouted Teresa Figueroa during the last festival in June. She sold plates for 20 soles (about $7 US) of fried, grilled, barbecued, baked and stewed cuy, with generous helpings of Andean potatoes and large Peruvian corn called choclo. There was even cuy au vin and cuy ceviche. Ceviche is a typical Peruvian seafood dish comprised mainly of fish cooked in lime.

Source: abcnews.go.com, wikipedia.org, itn.co.uk

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter December 2007
• Newsletter November 2007
• Newsletter October 2007
• Newsletter September 2007
• Newsletter August 2007
• Newsletter July 2007
• Newsletter June 2007
• Newsletter May 2007
• Newsletter April 2007
• Newsletter March 2007
• Newsletter February 2007
• Newslette January 2007