Native guinea pig provides export boom for Peru
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 21 Jul 2015
1. Interior of guinea pig breading grounds at National Agricultural University La Molina
2. Guinea pigs
3. Close-up of guinea pig
4. Guinea pigs
5. Various of new born guinea pigs
6. Export Project Director "Peruvian Breed" Gloria Palacios
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Gloria Palacios, Export Project Director "Peruvian Breed":
"It is well known that Peruvians eat guinea pig. Foreigners are more reluctant to eat it as they see the animal as a pet. I think if they (foreigners) get familiarised with the cuisine, maybe suddenly they might fall into the temptation to try it. It is delicious really."
8. Guinea pigs
9. Counter in food shop
10. Shop owner displaying guinea pigs
11. Guinea pigs inside refrigerated display
12. Close up of sign advertising cooked guinea pig
13. Various of cook preparing guinea pig
14. Close up of guinea pig on plate
15. Wide shot of people eating guinea pigs
STORYLINE:
In the West, guinea pigs are a familiar sight in households as a cuddly domestic pet. But in Peru, the animal is one of the country's culinary specialities.
Cuisine cuy, as it is called in the Andean nation, is a traditional food for thousands of rural communities.
To many in the poor Latin American nation, the rodent is a source of much-needed protein and they are also commonly used in traditional medicine.
Now, the animal is being exported to countries with large Peruvian immigrant populations - like the United States, Japan and many European countries.
Gloria Palacios, director of a project to promote guinea pigs export, said: "It is well known that Peruvians eat Guinea pig. Foreigners are more reluctant to eat it as they see the animal as a pet".
However, Palacios says she thinks non-Peruvians should try the dish "maybe suddenly they might fall into the temptation".
Archaeologists say there is evidence that guinea pigs were domesticated in Peru as far back as 2500 B.C.
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