Last Updated on December 7, 2022 by worldoftravelswithkids

Whether you’re a foodie planning a trip to Peru or you want to know more about Peruvian food, these Peru food facts for kids will teach you so many things.  Let’s get started!

How I Fell in Love with the Food of Peru

This is a true story:  The first week I spent in Peru was spent eating bananas.  We’d bought a whole bunch of bananas and were travelling through the Amazon with limited supplies.  Luckily for me, my adventures have taken me from experiencing some of the most typical food in Peru (yes, guinea pig) to eating at some of Peru’s most acclaimed restaurants, including those of superstar chef Gaston Acurio.

These Peru food facts take you from the traditional superfoods of the Andes through to the shores of the Pacific, where delicious ceviche abounds.  I share these Peru food facts with a little extra seasoning thrown in.  I hope you learn to love Peru food as much as I do!

Looking for recommendations of where to eat in Peru with kids?  We have a post, Best Places to Eat in Peru with Kids.

Interesting Facts about Peruvian Food

Peru has some of the world’s most interesting food.  Here are some interesting facts about Peru’s food to learn.

Peruvians Love Their Potatoes

If you’re looking for interesting facts on Peru food, did you know that there are over 4000 species of potato?  If you venture out to the communities, you are sure to get served up a plate of boiled potatoes.

Peru has More Than 55 Varieties of Corn

Yes, that is right, there are more than 55 varieties of corn.  There is so much different corn at the Peruvian markets, you can practically find corn of every color of the rainbow and even black corn.

In fact, corn is a super popular snack in Peru and is served at many restaurants as roasted corn kernels.   A large kerneled light-yellow corn is boiled in large pots by the road and sold as a popular snack, “Choclo”.  We are so into Peru’s corn that we even wrote a full post about the different types of corn.

What is the Most Popular Peruvian Food?

Regarded internationally as Peruvian sushi, ceviche is arguably the most popular dish in Peru.  Made of diced raw fish marinated in lemon juice with Aji Chili and garnished with red onions and chopped cilantro, ceviche is enjoyed as an appetizer or main dish.

What is Peru Street Food?

Peru street food is ready-to-eat fare sold from a mobile food stall, a food cart, or a food truck in public places such as parks, fairs, or markets.

The country has plenty of locations selling street food, including the capital Lima.  Try butifarra (ham sandwich), anticuchos (grilled cow heart skewers), and salchipapas (french fries topped with sliced hotdogs or sausages).  Picarone, a doughnut made from sweet potato or squash flour, is a favourite local dessert.

What is Unique about Peruvian Food?

Peruvian cuisine blends Spanish, Incan, Asian, Arab, African, and various indigenous influences.  Each region adds its own twist to traditional dishes, making Peruvian cooking outstandingly diverse.

The food boasts rich and robust flavours, combining sweet, salty, spicy, and sour tastes.  The most common ingredients are potatoes, beans, beef, eggs, corn, seafood, and aji chilli.

What are My Favourite Peruvian Foods?

These traditional Peruvian dishes are a must-try on any trip to Peru, and we actually had so much fun writing up this Peru food fact that we created a separate post.  So what are my personal recommendations of Peruvian food that you must try?

Ceviche

Causa (Potato Casserole)

Papas a la Huancaina (Potatoes in Cheese Sauce)

Anticuchos De Corazon (Grilled Heart)

While grilled heart is the ‘correct’ form of anticucho, it’s most commonly served up in quinta restaurants and a real delicacy.  My favourite form of anticucho is the type grilled on street corners around the Andes, and most commonly just plain beef!

Cuy (Guinea Pig), read on for more interesting facts about why guinea pig makes a great meal!

Cocoa is the World’s Only Natural Anesthetic – and Chewing it is Popular in Peru

Chewing Cocoa leaves is a popular pastime in Peru.  The leaves are chewed by balling them up in the cheek, then chewing on them slowly.  Some people suck the leaves instead.  Chewing cocoa leaves leads to lightheadedness and a calm feeling.  It also helps to decrease appetite.

Andean people are resilient and walk for hours through the mountains in freezing cold conditions.  If you look closely at them, they will have a ball of coca in their cheek, helping to keep them going.

Lima Beans are Named after Lima – Peru’s Capital City

When the Spanish were in Peru, boxes of ‘Lunatus’ – the proper name for the plant were shipped with the origin label ‘Lima’ on them.  This led to the beans being named Lima beans.

They are widely grown in Peru and have been for the last 9000 years.  Even during the Incan empire, Lima beans were a staple, along with potatoes and quinoa.

Brazil Nut –The Delicious Tree Nut is Not Exclusive to the Country of Brazil

20 years ago I volunteered in the Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado for a month.  One of our jobs was to walk around the property looking for illegal loggers who might interfere with the castana collection.  I’m not sure if it was just an exercise in keeping the volunteers occupied, but once we did find an illegally felled tree.  I’ve never eaten a brazil nut since, without remembering that hot sweaty jungle and my own brush with deforestation.

In Peru, Brazil nuts are known as castaña.  The region in which brazil nuts grow includes the whole area of Madre de Dios, which also includes areas in Bolivia and Peru.

Peruvian Food Nutrition Facts

Without a doubt that Peruvian food is tasty, but is it healthy?  Because most dishes consist of local, fresh ingredients, they are generally highly nutritious and low on calories.

Peruvian cooking is known for using superfoods, such as quinoa, purple potatoes, and yellow pepper, which help burn calories and fight cancer cells.  The country is also home to exotic fruits known for their nutritional and medicinal benefits.  These include lucuma, camu-camu, and pichuberry.

Peru Has Some of the World’s Best Chocolate

Chocolate is very important in Peru; it’s been part of local life for generations. The result of this is that chocolate in Peru is some of the best in the world.

Chocolate is actually very healthy.  It’s a Peruvian superfood, full of fibre and protein, which helps support digestion and build up muscle mass.  Chocolate is made of cocoa butter and cocoa, which come from Cacao.  Another fun fact on Peru – Cacao grows on tropical evergreen cacao trees in Peru.

You May Also Like: Yummy Fun – A Choco Museo Cusco Peru Review

The Superfood Quinoa is From Peru

Here is my fave Peru food fact, the superfood Quinoa has been cultivated and eaten in the Andes for over 4000 years.  But, what is so special about this superfood?

Quinoa (pronounced KIN-oh-wa) is extremely nutrient-dense.  For example, it is high in protein and is one of the few plant-based sources of protein that includes all 9 amino acids.  It is also a great source of iron and magnesium.

The Superfood Maca is Also from Peru

Maca was only discovered recently (in the 1980s) and originated in a small region of the Peruvian highlands.  Once the world discovered Maca as an amazing dietary supplement, the crop became popular across the world.  You’ll probably even find it at the health food store near you.  Maca is one of my favourite breakfast drinks in Peru.

Peru Food Culture Facts

The Peruvian food culture is as rich and fascinating as its dishes.  In 2017, the country won the world’s leading culinary destination, beating Italy, Spain, and China for the title.  But Peruvian gastronomy is more than just an exotic trend.  It is a unique infusion of the old and new, shaped by centuries-old traditional cooking and innovative modern techniques.  With that said, let’s look at some more intriguing food in Peru facts.

Expect to Eat Guinea Pig in Peru!

Guinea pigs (cuy) are special delicacies in Peru; they are native to Peru and have served as a Peruvian staple for millennia.  The rodents are high in protein and raised on the dirt floors of homes all around the Andes.

I’ve never tired of seeing them dart amongst your feet as you eat dinner or when the lady of the house peels her potatoes or shells her peas and drops the extras on the floor to be devoured by a guinea pig or two.  I’ve also never forgotten my hosts picking up a guinea pig and then preparing it for me to eat as a guest of honour.

Guinea pigs have been so popular for so long; they’re also reflected in Peru’s history.  Cusco’s Basilica features a deception of the Last Supper on the wall.  The unique thing about this Basilica is that it features a Guinea Pig.  The mural also teaches us about guinea pigs being something to eat at ‘supper’.

If you are served up a guinea pig by a local family in Peru it is a tremendous honor and try to eat it.  Or, in my case, my Peruvian born daughter loves eating it and will eat my portion!

There is National Roasted Chicken Day in Peru

Peru loves its roasted chicken so much it has a National Day to celebrate it.  Each year, the 21st of July is the official Day of Pollo a la Brasa.

Polla a la Brasa is an authentic Peruvian chicken dish.  The chicken is roasted with Peruvian herbs and spices and served with different hot pepper sauces.

What do Peruvians Eat for Breakfast?

In the households where I’ve lived a Peruvian breakfast is very simple – black coffee and pan (plain bread) without butter or jam.  If you are out and about on the streets, there are some other good options, including heading to the market and asking for “Jugo de Papaya” which is papaya blended up on the spot.  You can ask the vendor to throw other juices as you see fit!  Super delish and super healthy!

If you are game, try emoliente, which is a drink made from toasted barley and a variety of herbs.  The emoliente drink is a popular breakfast drink.  In addition to the health benefits of barley, the emoliente seller will add other herbs, tell them your ailment.  To buy emoliente look for a cart with a group of people gathered around the hot drinks steaming in the morning air.  We can personally recommend emoliente as a great way to start the day for its calming taste and health benefits.

Finally, if you are looking for something super greasy for breakfast, then you should totally try Chicharron de Chancho, basically fried up pork rinds with some meat.

Coca Tea is Great for Acclimatization to Peru’s High Altitudes

Once you leave the coast of Peru, you’ll be confronted with huge altitudes.  Some cities, such as Cusco sit at extremely high altitudes (11,000 ft).  Cocoa is native to South America and very popular in Petu.  Drinking Cocoa tea is popular in Peru to both prevent and treat altitude sickness.  It’s so popular that many hotels have cocoa tea available to help the visitor acclimate.

The best way to prepare coca tea is grabbing a couple of leaves and leaving them to infuse in the boiling water.  The coca tea itself is slightly bitter.  Luckily in Peru they serve the tea with plenty of sugar making coca tea sugary and warming.  You don’t have to drink it like that if you don’t want to.

Cocoa Was Very Important to the Inca’s

Cocoa was very important in the daily life of the Incas.  The cocoa was used at many feasts and religious rituals, and the effects of it helped with the labour expected of Inca citizens.

The leaves were so important to the Incas that they even colonized the tropical rainforests to the North of Peru to protect the supply of Cocoa.

Peruvian Cuisine Facts

Peru’s vastly diverse landscape makes it home to loads of gastronomical varieties.  The Andes or mountain regions have dishes made of corn, potatoes, and quinoa.  The Coast boasts shellfish, fish, and lemons, while the Amazon offers the most exotic, such as super fruits and paiche, a giant fish native to the Amazon River.  Of course, you cannot miss the street food.

Peru is One of the Best Foodie Destinations and Dominated the Latin America Best Restaurants List Year After Year

Peru has won the World Travel Awards leading culinary destination prize every year since 2012.  No other country in South America has ever won the prize.

In addition to this, the Latin American 50 Best Restaurants List is frequently dominated by Peruvian cuisine.  Spot 1 is owned by Maido, spot 2 by Central, and spot 7 by Gaston.

Ceviche is Peru’s National Dish

The word “ceviche” is Quecha for “fresh fish”.  Ceviche is raw fish that has been marinated in lime juice or bitter orange juice, which preserves the fish, along with onions, chili peppers, and salt.  Sometimes it also includes vegetables such as potatoes or corn.

Ceviche is so popular in Peru that it actually has a holiday in its honour.

Ceviche is a Popular Dish in Peru – Made from Seafood, Onion, Chilies and Lime or Lemon Juice

But why is ceviche so famous?  It’s definitely the straightforward simplicity of the dish that makes it so delectable.  Some people think ceviche originated sometime after the arrival of the Spaniards, who introduced limes to the country.

But others believe it may have been invented in ancient times, using the fermented juice of tumbo (a relative of the passion fruit), seaweeds, and chilis as a substitute for lime.  Regardless of its origin, ceviche has become one of the most beloved foods in Peru and the world.

Peruvian Churros are Made from Potatoes

Churros are a popular street food in Peru.  I love a good churro, and you’ll find vendors selling deep-fried pastries filled with manjarblanco, the Peruvian equivalent of dulce de leche, for just a sol.

 Fun Fact: Peruvian churros are often made with potato-based dough.  I suppose that makes sense, given how many varieties of potatoes the country produces.  I wonder if there is a kind of potato especially suited to churros?  I’ll have to research that question in person if we ever go back to visit Peru again!

Peru Has the World’s Only Ice Cream Flavored Fruit – Lucuma

You either love or hate Lucuma!  My mum adores it, and it will always be her first choice when we get ice cream in Peru!

But what is Lucuma?  Lucuma is a fruit native to Peru.  It has a distinctive taste, which many people say tastes just like ice cream.  Lucuma is the most similar fruit to ice cream worldwide.

It’s Very Hard to Find Lucuma Fruit Outside of Peru

Lucuma (the famous ice cream flavored fruit) is native to Peru.  Farmers worldwide, especially in the US, have attempted to grow Lucuma, but they’ve got disappointing results.  The fruit doesn’t grow well outside of Peru, so make sure you try it if you’re visiting.

When a Lucuma tree has aged fully, it can yield as many as 500 fruit every season.  It has a rich history and was very important to the Incas.

Pachamanca is a Traditional Dish in Peru

Originating in the Andes, pachamanca is a traditional baked dish made of lamb, pork, alpaca, llama, chicken, beef, or guinea pig infused with herbs and spices.  Added to the meat are other Andean produce, such as potatoes, cassava, green lima beans, corn, plantain, yacon, humitas, tamales, and chilli.

To cook pachamanca, heat stones over a fire, place the meat and the other ingredients and then cover them with banana leaves, grass, and soil for two to four hours.

Best Drinks in Peru (Facts about Peru Drinks)

Peru has a plethora of delicious and delightful alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, some of which date back to ancient Incan times.

Evocative of the country’s history and culture, many of these beverages are rarely found outside Peru.  Though they are not as famous as the food, the drinks deserve their place in the spotlight.  Indeed, many of these beverages consist of local ingredients, making them distinctly Peruvian yet universally tasty.

Inca Cola is the National Drink of Peru

You can’t visit Peru and not try the National drink- Inca Cola.  Sickly sweet and a fluorescent yellow it has a define kick to it.  The drink was invented by the British immigrant ‘Joseph Robinson Lindley’. A list of Peru food facts wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Inca Cola!

Chicha is the National Beverage of Peru

Chicha originated in the Andean regions in pre-Columbian times.  Its main ingredient is purple corn boiled with a small portion of pineapple.  This refreshing drink is the quintessential Peruvian drink because of its versatility for pairing with almost any local food.

So popular is chicha that it has become a staple of the month-long festival Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) held in October.  Chicha is best served with picarones, turrón de Doña Pepa, anaticuchos, and mazamorra morada.

Who invented the Pisco Sour?

Pisco Sour is the signature cocktail of Peru, famous worldwide.  It is are made from grape liquor, lime juice