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Peru Food and Drink Guide

From zesty seafood ceviche to sharp and tangy Pisco Sours, Peru's cuisine packs a punch full of taste and flavour. Read our guide to the most popular food and drink to try in Peru.
Author: Helen Pettitt - Digital Content Manager at Explore Worldwide
Date Updated: 4 September 2024
 

A visit to Peru is much more than a non-stop history lesson. It's also a country bursting with delicious food and drink, from spicy Rocoto Relleno and creamy chicken stews to ice-cold pints of cusqueñas.

Begin your gastronomic journey with a trip to a cevicheria, a type of restaurant specialising in ceviche, which perfectly encapsulates the country's coastal bounty. In the foothills, Arequipa's traditional picanterías showcase home-cooked farmers food, with hearty regional dishes. Among the highlights of Peru is its cuisine - which includes vegetarian, Chinese-influenced and downright quirky options. 

Read on for the best food and drink to try in Peru:

  1. Lomo Saltado
  2. Ceviche
  3. Guinea Pig
  4. Tuna Fruit (Prickly Pear)
  5. Rocoto Relleno
  6. Aji de Gallina
  7. Causa
  8. Coca Tea
  9. Pisco Sours
  10. Chicha Morada
  11. Cusqueña

 

Lomo Saltado

A trip to Peru wouldn't be complete without sampling some Lomo Saltado (beef stir-fry). This tasty fusion of Peruvian and Chinese cuisine was originally developed by Chinese immigrants and has since become a popular dish throughout Peru.

Lomo Saltado comprises strips of beef tenderloin, onion and tomatoes, flashed-fried with garlic and cumin, and served with a generous pile of chips or rice. Food in Peru doesn't come much tastier - or as filling - as Lomo Saltado.

Ceviche

Ceviche is a zesty seafood recipe made from raw fish marinated in fresh citrus juices and spiked with hot ají or chilli peppers. Lima is a hot-spot for tasty culinary experiences and is the perfect place to try this traditional Peruvian dish. Not only is ceviche the most popular food in Peru, it's also the national dish.

Extend your stay in Lima on our Classic Peru Tour to try it at a market-stall bar in Mercado de Surquilloor. For a more up-market version of this popular platter, dine in an alfresco restaurant and soak up the vibrant city atmosphere.

Guinea Pig

While in the West we consider these furry creatures cute pets, for the people of Peru, Guinea Pig (known locally as Cuy) is a traditional Andes delicacy. The long-haired Guinea Pig is popular in Peru as it's regarded as a valuable source of protein.

Drive through the Sacred Valley on our Heights of Peru and Machu Picchu Trip and stop in a small town to sample this unusual dish. Watch as the whole guinea pig is cooked on a spit over hot coals and try it with a generous side of potatoes, chips or spaghetti.

Tuna Fruit (Prickly Pear)

Cusco's San Pedro Market is a feast for the senses. Meander past market stalls piled high with a rainbow of fresh produce on our Peru Encompassed Tour. Bunches of plantain hang above ripe mangoes, and it's hard to miss the plethora of Tuna fruit (also known as the Prickly Pear) on offer.

Grown in abundance in southern Peru, the spiky appearance of this cactus plant is unappealing at first sight - but inside, its juicy flesh is mouthwateringly sweet, and is renowned locally for its medicinal properties.
Discover our best trips for vegetarians

Rocoto Relleno

Staying in the heart of Arequipa, we enjoy dinner overlooking the city's main square on our Peru Encompassed Tour. Baroque-style architecture surrounds a central water feature, and the softly lit spires of the Basilica Cathedral create a romantic setting.

If you like spicy food, tuck into the local speciality, Rocoto Relleno, to enjoy a healthy dish of hot Peruvian peppers stuffed with minced meat, onions, herbs, olives and egg, topped with gooey melted cheese and served with a side of potato gratin - delicious!

Ají de Gallina

The ultimate comfort food of Peru, ají de gallina is a luscious creamy chicken stew made with spicy Peruvian yellow chilis, red onion, garlic and bread, simmered in milk. The origins of this dish are not entirely clear, but some say it is an adaptation of the French dish chicken fricassee dating back to the French Revolution. Others think it was a medieval Spanish recipe, and some historians have linked it to ancient Inca times. 

Ají de gallina is a very popular staple of Peruvian cuisine. Dig into regional food during your Peru tour and enjoy Andean cooking, Pachamanca lunches and modern infusions.

Causa

Causa is a traditional Peruvian dish, made from layers of mashed potatoes mixed with aji amarillo (yellow chilli pepper) and filled with avocado, tuna and chicken. Essentially, it's like a potato casserole - one that's served cold and typically as an appetizer or side dish.

Causa is best enjoyed in Peru's coastal cities, like Lima, where fresh seafood versions are popular. On our Upgraded - Discover Peru tour, you'll even have the opportunity to meet a Sacred Valley 'potato engineer'!

Image credit: PromPeru

Coca Tea

Hiking at altitude along the iconic Inca Trail in the sky-high Peruvian Andes mountains can be challenging, and altitude sickness is not uncommon. Luckily, Peru's coca tea can provide some relief from nausea and headaches - many believe that it provides medicinal benefits.

Watch as locals infuse dried coca leaves in hot water to create a greenish-yellow herbal tea and sip the mild, bitter brew to help keep discomfort at bay. Try it for yourself and see what you think!

Pisco Sours

Peru's national drink, the Pisco Sour is a unique cocktail with a sharp tang and a sweet aftertaste. This strong cocktail consists of Pisco liquor (a type of brandy), lime juice, sugar and egg whites, which is vigorously shaken into a frothy mixture.

Wander through steep winding alleyways of whitewashed buildings with pink tiled roofs and colourful balconies in the old capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, before stopping to sample this popular Peruvian drink. Raise a toast to safe travels with your fellow adventurers on our Simply Peru Discovery Tour and celebrate in traditional Peruvian style.

Chicha Morada

Quench your thirst while travelling in Peru with a glass of homemade chicha morada. Originally developed in the Peruvian Andes, chicha morada is a non-alcoholic beverage that is widely consumed across the whole country. Produced from vast crops of purple corn harvested in the mountains, the concoction is spiced with cloves and cinnamon, sweetened with sugar, and served cold over ice to create a sweet, refreshing and easy-to-drink beverage.

While travelling on our Simply Peru tour, you'll not only tick off the major attractions, but you'll also enjoy authentic food and drink experiences - why not add chicha morada to the list, too?
Find more non-alcoholic drinks around the world

Cusqueña

After reaching the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu on our Inca Trail trek, reward yourself with an ice-cold cusqueña in Aguas Calientes. This all-malt lager has been brewed since 1911, using pure water from the Andes mountains.

Cusqueña has a sweet and citric taste with an intense caramel colour, although there are a few variations: cusqueña dorada (golden lager - the most popular), cusqueña roja (red lager), cusqueña trigo (wheat beer) and cusqueña negra (black lager). 
View our Southern Peru tour

 

Sample Peru with us

Try out these dishes and get your fill of all the best Peruvian food and drink on a cultural small group tour to Peru. Visit markets to sample local delicacies and your local tour leader will be able to recommend the best places for dinner. 
View all Peru tours

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