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You did WHAT to a guinea pig??? Articles \| Home Page Mention "Guinea Pigs" and "Peru" in the same sentence and most people's first reaction will be disgust: "Don't they EAT them? Yeuch!!". The idea of eating an animal which is only ever thought of as a pet in the "West" is odd, and supports the idea that Peru is a weird and alien place. However, it is worth remembering that Guinea Pigs were domesticated in South America, and were domesticated as food, never as pets - the idea of keeping Guinea Pigs as pets seems almost as odd to a Peruvian as the idea of keeping a cow as a pet might to non-Peruvians. Guinea Pigs are a common food particularly in Andean Peru, and outside the main towns and cities you will often find that kitchens often have clay ovens and a group of cuy (Guinea Pigs) living on the floor behind it - either in an enclosure but often left to feed on scraps and roam around the kitchen, which often has a raised threshold to prevent them escaping. They are a vital and nutritious part of the diet, and many Peruvians will tell you proudly how cuy meat is one of the best and most healthy meats you can eat, and even how the Japanese government is encouraging its citizens to eat it and have started importing Peruvian Guinea Pigs as food. There is no getting away from the fact that the thought of eating Guinea Pig does turn the stomach of most "Westerners" and for ex-pat Peruvians, going to a pet shop to buy a Guinea Pig to eat can be quite an embarrassing experience, particularly when they are asked if they want a cage, toys, bedding etc rather than just the fattest one! Once you get beyond the idea of eating cuy, it is actually quite tasty, and there are many recipes for cooking it. Most tourist places will oven cook whole cuy, so you get the full 'look at what we are eating' effect for the photos, most tourists tasting no more than a mouthful. There are many recipes for cuy when it is jointed and cooked like any other meat - remember once you get away from the tourist circus it is an everyday, common meal for many Peruvians. Get beyond the photo opportunity and try eating it properly; many Peruvians believe that eating the head will make you more intelligent but at least try the meat, it is well worth it! Back to top \| Home Page \| Articles \| History \| Culture

Everything you ever wanted to know about Peru, in one place

You did WHAT to a guinea pig???

Articles | Home Page

Mention "Guinea Pigs" and "Peru" in the same sentence and most people's first reaction will be disgust: "Don't they EAT them? Yeuch!!". The idea of eating an animal which is only ever thought of as a pet in the "West" is odd, and supports the idea that Peru is a weird and alien place. However, it is worth remembering that Guinea Pigs were domesticated in South America, and were domesticated as food, never as pets - the idea of keeping Guinea Pigs as pets seems almost as odd to a Peruvian as the idea of keeping a cow as a pet might to non-Peruvians.

Guinea Pigs are a common food particularly in Andean Peru, and outside the main towns and cities you will often find that kitchens often have clay ovens and a group of cuy (Guinea Pigs) living on the floor behind it - either in an enclosure but often left to feed on scraps and roam around the kitchen, which often has a raised threshold to prevent them escaping. They are a vital and nutritious part of the diet, and many Peruvians will tell you proudly how cuy meat is one of the best and most healthy meats you can eat, and even how the Japanese government is encouraging its citizens to eat it and have started importing Peruvian Guinea Pigs as food.

There is no getting away from the fact that the thought of eating Guinea Pig does turn the stomach of most "Westerners" and for ex-pat Peruvians, going to a pet shop to buy a Guinea Pig to eat can be quite an embarrassing experience, particularly when they are asked if they want a cage, toys, bedding etc rather than just the fattest one!

Once you get beyond the idea of eating cuy, it is actually quite tasty, and there are many recipes for cooking it. Most tourist places will oven cook whole cuy, so you get the full 'look at what we are eating' effect for the photos, most tourists tasting no more than a mouthful. There are many recipes for cuy when it is jointed and cooked like any other meat - remember once you get away from the tourist circus it is an everyday, common meal for many Peruvians.

Get beyond the photo opportunity and try eating it properly; many Peruvians believe that eating the head will make you more intelligent but at least try the meat, it is well worth it!