Peruvian cuisine is a mixture of magic and history. Peru has been fortunate to have the perfect climate and territory conditions so ingredients can grow and Incas used them to create dishes that today dazzle the entire world. But why is Peruvian gastronomy considered one of the best in the world? Find it out here!

The diversity of Peruvian dishes in traditional food

Thanks to its long history, Peru has an infinite number of traditional dishes. The mixture that runs through the veins of their people has made possible the fusion of wonderful flavors. They are a multi-racial country. 

There is no purebred. Although some races are discriminated against by unscrupulous people daily, it’s not the same when it comes to food. It has been shown that food brings people together, and allows them to share a better side of themselves.

Its three natural regions are unique in the world. Each of them has contributed to make Peruvian cuisine the best in the world. In fact, Peru not only has a variety of dishes, but also ingredients. There are more than 2600 varieties of native potatoes in the country. 

Each variety has its own flavor and texture, allowing them to continue creating countless delicious dishes. As long as creativity exists, its gastronomic future will be prosperous.

You can also read: Where to eat in a hotel in Cusco?: Know the best places

Peruvian cuisine and its health properties

Thanks to the wonderful ingredients that grow in the territory it can be said that Peruvian food is healthy. The vast majority of Peruvian dishes contain ingredients that provide great nutrients. The balance of ingredients of all kinds is what makes this possible. 

There should be no excess of fats, carbohydrates, among others. Many years before medical advances, Incas already knew what foods were good to be healthy and strong and that knowledge was passed down from generation to generation.

That’s why Peruvians have the necessary knowledge of which foods are better for them. In the mountains and deep forest they still clearly preserve all the advice left by their grandparents and great-grandparents and coincidentally these people had a longer lifespan. 

Food is the key to good health. For this reason, thanks to this knowledge they can live longer than people living in the “modern” coastal region.

Reasons to be number one

Although Machu Picchu remains the main tourist attraction of Peru, more and more visitors choose this country attracted by its cuisine. Therefore, it has remained number one in the world for six consecutive years, surpassing that of countries such as Mexico, Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, India, China, Thailand and Malaysia.

In addition to this nomination, the phenomenon of Peruvian cuisine and its popularity are due to events such as the Mistura fair in Peru and its presence at other festivals around the world. This makes people aware of Peruvian gastronomic wealth.

But why is Peru’s gastronomy so rich? Undoubtedly, one of the reasons is its biodiversity. The land of the Incas has the privilege of having 75% of the world’s ecosystems. There are about 3000 types of potato, more than 50 species of corn, about 18 breeds of quinoa, and about 25 varieties of pre-Hispanic peppers, among them the rocoto, more than 5000 years old.

Today, 10 of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America are Peruvian: Maido (1), Central (2), Astrid & Gastón (7), Osso Carnicería y Salumería (12), La Mar (15), Isolina (21), Rafael (24), Malabar (30), Fiesta (46) and Ámaz (47). And among the 50 best restaurants in the world, three are Peruvian: Central (5), Maido (8) and Astrid & Gastón (33).

The territory of Peru is divided into three major regions: the mountains, the jungle and the coast. Tourists eager to visit these places can be guided by their tastes and preferences. The mountains, for example, produce most of the essential food in the Peruvian diet, such as potatoes, geese, corn and vegetables.

In the Amazon jungle, there are fruits such as camu camu and lúcuma, whose delicious juices accompany most menus of its restaurants. The seas provide species such as hedgehogs, prawns, sole and tilapia, and in the plantations of its coasts grapes are produced, with which pisco is made, base of the famous pisco sour cocktail.

You can also read: What is Food Tourism in Peru?

The future of Peru’s gastronomy

Gastronomy is still paving its way to world stardom. In recent years, much progress has been made thanks to the culinary representatives they had and that were promoted from abroad. Peruvian cuisine is getting more and more famous. 

The great taste and the nutrients they offer end up convincing even the most skeptical. With these latest events, thousands of young people a year choose to pursue the wonderful career of gastronomy.

Now you know why Peruvian gastronomy is the best. If you want to try Peruvian dishes, you can do it either if you visit the mountains, the coast or the jungle. In any of these regions food is delicious and unique. We hope this information has been useful to you!

Andean Wings is a first class hotel in Cusco Peru with a restaurant, located two blocks from the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the old city. If you would like to know more about our rooms, amenities or tours, do not hesitate to contact us.