Food & Drink

Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey through Peru? Get ready to delight your senses with unique and exquisite flavours. In this article, we will introduce you to the traditional Peruvian drinks and typical foods that make Peruvian gastronomy one of the most renowned worldwide. Don’t miss this opportunity to savour the culture and tradition of Peru!

Peruvian Drinks

Peru is famous for its refreshing and flavourful drinks. Among the most outstanding are:

Pisco Sour: Considered Peru’s flagship drink, the Pisco Sour is a cocktail made from pisco (a grape spirit), lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and drops of Angostura bitters. It is refreshing and served on the rocks.
Chicha Morada: A non-alcoholic drink made with purple corn, fruits such as pineapple and spices such as cinnamon. It is sweet, deep purple in colour and served chilled. It is very popular in Peruvian festivities and meals.
Inca Kola: It is a very famous soft drink in Peru and considered a national drink. It is bright yellow in colour and has a sweet and slightly fruity taste. Some describe it as similar to banana gum.
Emoliente: A hot drink made from medicinal herbs such as barley, flaxseed, horsetail and alfalfa. It is usually sweetened with honey or sugar and consumed as an infusion.
Chicha de jora: An ancestral alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of jora corn. It is a traditional drink from the Peruvian Andes and has a slightly sweet taste and a thick texture.
Craft beer: Peru has a growing craft beer scene. Some popular brands include Cusqueña, Arequipeña, Barbarian, Sierra Andina and many more. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from, ranging from lagers to darker, more experimental beers.
La frutillada: A refreshing strawberry smoothie, sweet and juicy, perfect to enjoy on hot days.

Typical Peruvian Food

Peruvian cuisine is internationally renowned for its diversity and exquisiteness. Here are some of the typical dishes that you should try

Ceviche: It is one of the most representative dishes of Peruvian cuisine. It consists of fresh fish or seafood marinated in lemon juice, mixed with aji (chilli), red onion, coriander and other condiments. It is usually served with sweet potato and corn.
Lomo Saltado: A Chinese-influenced dish combining chunks of beef stir-fried with onion, tomato, aji amarillo and seasoned with soy sauce. It is served with rice and fried potatoes.
Anticuchos: These are skewers of meat marinated in a mixture of aji panca, aji mirasol, vinegar and spices. They are traditionally made with beef heart, but can also be found with chicken, fish or seafood. They are served with potatoes and chilli sauce.
Ají de Gallina: A traditional dish made with shredded chicken in a creamy ají amarillo sauce, nuts, cheese, bread and milk. It is served over rice and accompanied with potatoes and olives.
Causa Limeña: A kind of cold pie made of yellow potato mixed with aji amarillo, lemon and oil. It is filled with tuna, chicken, seafood or vegetables, and is usually decorated with egg, olives and mayonnaise.
Rocoto Relleno: A spicy dish consisting of rocoto, a type of chilli pepper stuffed with ground meat, onion, egg, olives and spices. It is baked and served with browned potatoes.
Cuy Chactado: A typical dish from the Andean region consisting of marinated, fried and flattened guinea pig. It is served with potatoes and is usually accompanied with salsa criolla.
Pachamanca: An ancient cooking method that combines meats (pork, chicken, lamb) and tubers (potatoes, sweet potato, yucca) marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground with hot stones. It is a traditional culinary experience.

These are just a few examples of the rich variety of typical Peruvian dishes. Peruvian cuisine is very diverse and each region has its own specialities and unique flavours.

Peruvian Desserts

We cannot talk about Peruvian gastronomy without mentioning its irresistible desserts.

Suspiro Limeño: A traditional dessert from Lima, it consists of a layer of manjar blanco (dulce de leche) covered with Italian meringue. It is sweet, smooth and very creamy.
Picarones: They are a kind of doughnut made of pumpkin and sweet potato, fried and coated in chancaca honey (cane sugar syrup). They are served hot and are spongy.
Mazamorra Morada: A dessert made of purple corn, fruits such as pineapple and spices. It is cooked with cornstarch and served cold with a little cinnamon powder and fresh fruit.
Turrón de Doña Pepa: A traditional dessert of the religious festivity of the Señor de los Milagros. It consists of layers of puff pastry covered with a mixture of chancaca honey, aniseed, peanuts and coloured candies.
Alfajores: These are cornstarch biscuits filled with manjar blanco and sprinkled with icing sugar. They are very soft and sweet, perfect to accompany a cup of coffee.
Arroz con Leche: A classic dessert made from rice cooked in milk with cinnamon and lemon zest. It is served cold and can be served with sultanas and a touch of vanilla essence.
King Kong: A dessert originally from Trujillo, it consists of a dough of flour, sugar, butter and egg, filled with blancmange and dried fruits such as sultanas, figs and walnuts. It is baked and covered with icing sugar.
Leche Asada: It is a kind of flan made with milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla. It is baked and served cold, usually with a little liquid caramel.