If you’re an English speaker and are coming from a predominantly English speaking country, you might wonder if people in Peru are able to speak your language. The short answer is, very few people in Peru are able to speak English. The long answer is, some people may speak English but it helps to learn of your word of Spanish or carry your phrasebook along with you.  It really depends on where you are As long as you’re in Lima or Costco and are only visiting popular cafés or hotels which are used to international travelers you will probably not need to know Spanish. However, the beauty o ..read more

If you have ever wondered how black people came to live in Peru, you shouldn’t be surprised if you discovered that the route was the same transatlantic slave trade. This dark history is often not discussed but it’s part and parcel of every south and north American country. Peru is no exception. Afro-Caribbeans are descendants of Africans were brought as slaves  to Peru, after the arrival of the conquistadors.  A brief history of Black people in Peru They started to arrive in 1521, and built the infrastructure that the Spanish colonists needed to settle in Peru. They were responsibl ..read more

You might be surprised to learn that Peru has the second largest number of Japanese people in South America after Brazil. In most cities of Peru, you will find Japanese restaurants and bars. In fact, Fujimori, was a Japanese Peruvian as well. There is an interesting story behind why the Japanese people chose Peru as the destination for migrating.  In the late 1800s, Japan was a poor country and the working class did not have a lot of jobs. They were desperate to eke out a living and were constantly on the lookout for better opportunities. Eventually, they started to look for destinations ..read more

Peru has a rich history dating back to 12,000 BC, and you might be surprised to learn just how ancient this country is. The Pikimachay cave seems to have had a human presence dating back to 14,000 years ago. This is part of the Ayacucho complex which is located in the Ayacucho valley of Peru.  Artifacts dating back to 11,000 BC include bone pieces, basalt and chert tools, choppers and projectile points. A large number of guinea pig bones have been found as well. This suggests that humans may have domesticated guinea pigs for their meat. In addition llamas could have been domesticated by ..read more

A lot of people do not like to eat offal because they consider organ meat gross and disgusting. However, a number of communities across the world relish organ meat and that valued for their high nutrient density. In fact, did your diet recommends eating organ meats such as kidney, heart, brain, liver and other parts. There is also an ethical angle to eating organ meat. An animal that has been slaughtered should be consumed in its entirety and not discounted.  Most people only choose the lean parts of the carcass, and discard organ meat. This is disrespectful, mini believe, for the dead a ..read more

If you have wondered what the need to people of Peru eat, you would be surprised to learn that there is an amazing array of dishes that you can try. One of them is the Causa, which is a potato-based casserole or cake roll. It is prepared in a number of ways, and has many regional variations.  No matter where you try it, it is always delicious because of the potato component. Potatoes that are used in the Causa are yellow in color and are matched to a fine based in order to bring the signature texture. This dish is native to Quechuan people and you can find it all over Peru.  How to ..read more

If you thought Lima was a bustling and modern city, think again. This metropolitan city sits on top of an archaeological bank that could probably date back to 4,500 years ago. Archaeologist Alexis Solis says that Lima is in fact sitting on top of a cultural bank. He is one of the 40 archaeologists who work for the Calidda national gas company. The company has been given the contract of installing gas lines across Lima. Consequently its workers have found themselves in the midst of an archaeological site spanning across the city.  What did they discover? They have continued to discover a ..read more

If you would looking for an exotic suite that is only found in Peru look no further than the Chapanas. This sweet is made from cassava flour, Annies and molasses. The mixture is wrapped in a dry leaf and served cold. The name of the sweet is derived from the word chapuni, which means “to knead”. Some people also add clubs and cinnamon and this is very popular along the coast of Peru. Many people do not know about the sweet abroad but it is very popular in Peru. In fact it is found in most of the popular markets, and people relish it in a number of occasions.  What is great about the Chap ..read more

Did you ever think that a cocktail could have gender? Turns out, it can. Algarrobina has the reputation for being a cocktail that is popular with women. In fact, it is known as a girly drink and any man who drinks it is often ridiculed by other men.  The reason being, this cocktail is sweet and syrupy and is made from a thick syrup. This cocktail is usually drunk by women because it is known to heal anaemia and give you beautiful and healthy skin. It has a beautiful caramel flavour and two men say that they don’t like it they often order it in huge quantities at the bars.  Why do pe ..read more

Peru is famous for a number of cocktail recipes and travelers are often surprised to see that the locals drink a variety of drinks. As Peruvian cuisine becomes more famous all around the world, its drinks will continue to get more popular as well.  Cocktails from Peru are perfect for both hot and cold days, and this is reflected in the country’s varied geography. As it is, people in Peru like to party a lot and needless to say cocktails often go along with parties.  Askf or a Caspiroleta, always Caspiroleta is a popular cocktail that combines a number of ingredients. This delicious ..read more