Glad you liked it Luis, that was my goal. Guinea pig or Cuy as it is widely known in Ecuador, is considered a delicacy. I now follow in his footsteps and have only named 1 rabbit that we "rescued" from a shelter to use as a breeder. Your feeling is based in your cultural upbringingand personal experience, and those can evolveover time. That means that they just eat fruits and veggiesno dairy, eggs, meat, or insects for these little guys. The taste of guinea pig is difficult to describe and depends on how it is cooked. 24 Dec 2020 0. What follows is my experience trying to raise and eat a Guinea pig. The practice of eating cuy has been increasingly acceptedand even celebratedby urbanites who see it as part of their culinary heritage. According to activists, eating guinea pig is good for the environment. I had a couple as a kid and all I remembered about them was high pitched squealing, and stinky cages. We are currently doing such immeasurable harm to our planet in the name of feeding ourselves which we could easily reduce through lifestyle changes. The eating of guinea pig remains controversial, however. January 7, 2022. Search Works. Regardless of food to meat ratios, guinea pigs can be raised inside your home. Guinea pig is now finding its way through food supply chains to home kitchens and restaurants around the world, further increasing its economic value and intensifying its industrialization. If you click on these links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Garca describes commercial breeder farms where female guinea pigs are continuously impregnated until they are slaughtered, and she recounts how seeing these conditions up close during a visit to a farm north of Lima left her grieving. I knew I wouldn't in good conscience be able to get one froma pet store, and after doing my research for a few minutes I saw some people raise larger guinea pig breeds called giant cavy (another word for guinea pig), closer to the size of rabbits. When properly prepared, the meat of a guinea pig is rich, fatty, and flavorful, while the skin, when roasted over a hot fire, gives pork crackling a run for its . However, the consequences of this phenomenon have not always been positive. Across South America today, guinea pigs are known to the locals as Cuy. Citrus fruit and mangoes are the principal fruits under consideration. Additional Resources. (It's a small animal, like a large rat. Usually served with side dishes such as lots of potatoes with hot sauce, and other sides, so the whole presentation is a nice filling meal. In the local language, Kichwa, the name for this epicurean oddity is cuy, supposedly an imitation of their bird-like peep. Still not knowing what it was, I got my line cook (also from Ecuador) to translate. Pick your side: either all animals matter or none do. Then a few weeks later, a giant guinea pig cage showed up at my apartment. Published: Dec 16, 2017 Modified: Jan 27, 2023 by Alan Bergo This post may contain affiliate links 26 Comments. Work Search: tip: words:100 Skip header; Actions. As you can see 80% of your guinea pigs diet should come from hay. We have and prepared right it is not bad at all.This winter we managed to get a 35kg warthog, which we cut up and packed into the freezer. Surely though, as a meat-eater that is ridiculous? Truly interesting! Guinea pigs at a farm for the animals in Puno, Peru, where they're considered a delicacy. Historically, the guinea pig had been used for ceremonial reasons. "Very, very good," says Buckwheat Queen. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. As I experienced firsthand on my visit to Peru, guinea pig is now a highlight of the tasting menus of Maido and Central, recognized as some of the best restaurants not only in Lima but in the world. A highland eco-park celebrates more than a thousand varieties of tuber. Sure, it's legal. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Leonardos concession of some people liking it speaks to these changing attitudes. In Peru, it's estimated that some 65 million guinea pigs are consumed each year. I am actually based in Norfolk too how funny! They can be found all over the country, but are most common in the coastal areas of the Andes Mountains. We would love to hear from you! sure we can live off of the garbage we eat today, but in reality, meat is needed. aprilsimnel ( 30724) "Great Answer" ( 3 ) Flag as . 2.3M Likes, 15.2K Comments. My experience eating guinea pig is from a friend who herd raises them as food for reptiles and medium sized felines. Whilst I am much more open-minded about my diet now, I will confess I dont like eating things with a face. What I've come to learn, though, is that what's typical depends a lot on where you're from. The girls have a big cage like the one you have. In New York City, people can eat them at Andean culture-based restaurants. There's the proverbial Christmas goose, Thanksgiving turkey,and Easter rabbit, all of which sound pretty typical if you're an American well, except the rabbit. But Leonardos assumptions dont quite align with culinary trends. Its a rat! As I am carnivore, eating only meat, animal products and animal fat, I have no qualms about what meat I eat as long as it tastes good.I am fortunate enough to live in an area in which venison is available at a small fraction of the price of more conventional cuts and I avail of it when run out of meat to eat.My wife and I have raised and slaughtered rabbits and chickens, so we are not squeamish and will try anything at least once ever eaten crocodile? Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The consensus seems to be that no matter your opinion on eating guinea pig from a moral point of view, the quality of the cooking tends to be make or break when it comes to enjoyment. Ramsay ultimately opted to eat the loin portion of the guinea pig. The Campbells also eat quail, wallaby, possum and rabbit. Do you eat guinea pig? I asked Leonardo. How and where do we draw the lines betweenmeat and companion? A pretty park of over 1,600 olive trees that grew from just three saplings brought over from Spain. Guinea pig meat was an important part of the pre-colonial . I am the type of guy who would try anything as long as it looks good and I must admit they do look good. While wandering the streets of Peru don't be surprised to see small, whole animals roasting on spits and sold as a hearty snack or meal. People might appreciate eating meat more if they had to raise and slaughter the animal themselves. Fresh is best and they are very easy to grow. I dont know if guinea pigs eat less food than cattle. No purchase necessary. Other South American countries that eat guinea pigs include Bolivia, Columbia and Ecuador. Eventually we settled on carrots. The desire to maintain and protect the Amazon Rainforest is heavily impacted by the need for farming space, which has resulted in crazy levels of deforestation. Offer subject to change without notice. Later I learned that guinea pigs have been a traditional part of Andean households since precolonial times. Research by Peru's national health institute has shown that cuy has greater nutritional value than poultry, beef or lamb. Most of the houses had lots of guinea pigs inside, forming what appeared to be furry, moving carpets. In San Francisco, Diego Oka, a native of Peru and the executive chef of La Mar Cebicheria, serves imported Peruvian cuy every summer around Peru's July 28 Independence Day. By calling the guinea pig a rat, Leonardo was not only making a taxonomically accurate statement, he was expressing a disdain toward eating rat that he expected would be shared by foreign travelers like me. "Guinea pigs don't require the land that cattle do. Guinea pig, better known as cuy, is reported to taste like chicken or a combination of rabbit and duck. If you feel disgusted by the thought of someone eating a dog or a cat, like it or not, the fact that it's being eaten isn't "bad.". Guinea pigs are sources of vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, which are reason enough to make anyone want to try them. Choose pellets that also have vitamin C added since guinea pigs are unable to make their own like us! Here you can find my travel stories (and blunders) and maybe youll want to try winging it too! As a guinea pig mom, I'm glad your story had a happy ending, in my opinion. I first encountered cuyes back in Ecuador in 2015 on a hiking trip, when I had the opportunity to visit an Indigenous Kichwa village. The Dangerous Truth! CuencaHighLife publishes Ecuador news daily. I used to sell 1 rabbit leg on a plate for 30$, easy. I'd like rabbits eventually also. And that's just poultry. I admit my bias, as I am a Guinea Pig owner and vegetarian. Carrots contain high amounts of Vitamin A which can cause liver problems. This is the Kichwa translation which comes from the high-pitched sound that the guinea pigs make. So, they aren't just a treat for your palate; your health loves them too. They reach maturity around the same time as chickens. As this is where guinea pigs were first eaten, it is believed that they tend to be cooked to a higher standard in these areas. That cute fluffy pet that we keep in the UK and the US, I ate him. . Broccoli Stems best to feed opposed to florets. Hi Carolyn, I appreciate your comment, even moreso as you're a guinea pig mom. Carmensaid she would look into it for me, and I forgot about it for a couple weeks. I completely agree that sustainable meat sources are the future and raising your own is probably the best way to go. Assuming small game is poor people food is an elitist point of view at best, and ignorant, cultural food-shaming at its worst. Lol. Fruits and Vegetables Guinea Pigs Can Eat. Many of these prohibitions constitute taboos. My best description is: Imagine when the Thanksgiving turkey comes out of the oven, and you go for the wings and the skin. There's areethics questions, too, of course: What makes a rabbit raised for meat different than one a sitting in a child's lap? At one time, only Indigenous communities in the Andes ate cuy. Not all pellets are equal so aim to buy the ones that are not too high in calcium as this can lead to kidney and bladder stones. Cattle require masses of land which has had a huge environmental impact. There are also suggestions included as to what to choose for each category. In some parts of the world eating beef is unheard of, and in other parts of the world, they eat dog and horse meat (including some places here in Ecuador). His chestnut forest is home to thousands of hens. Most venison is rendered palatable by soaking it in a brine consisting of 1 tablespoon of salt to each litre of water. Then, one night my girlfriend stopped by. Dandelion Greens - Ensure these are free from animal urine if collecting from the wild. Leave for 12 hours at first and then adjust according to you taste. In Ecuador it is often cooked over an open spit; it reminds me of chicken wings or some other kind of dark meat. "They were encouraging people to switch from cattle to guinea pigs," Miller says. We were perusing the menu in a restaurant in Lima, and I wanted to know what my Peruvian friend thought of the practice of eating cuy (the Spanish term for guinea pig used in parts of the Andes mountains). I've cooked hundreds of rabbits, wild and domesticated, and I can just about guarantee "sinuous" just means they've been undercooked or improperly prepared. In short, the answer is no. Marvellous read, fantastic story. But in recent decades, urban Peruvians, particularly those of mestizos descent (ie with mixed European and Andean . I have heard and read a number of reports from people who say it tastes amazing and plenty from those who say it is chewy and fatty. Do you also sell Guinea pig meat? I took that as a no. But Leonardo later conceded, Some people love it, others dont.. Living in style. Later I learned that guinea pigs have been a traditional part of Andean households since precolonial times. These three nations, along with Peru, make up the Andean Community of Nations (CAN). We feed our guinea pigs vegetables and herbs twice a day. Served either whole or cut up, either way it is pretty graphic. My recommendation: Try it! Cuy is best served with potatoes and cheese. Writing in the 1990s, the sociologist Edmundo Morales pointed out in a study of guinea pig consumption that city dwellers particularly class- and ethnicity-conscious urban mestizos and Whites would try to avoid practices like eating guinea pig that put them into direct contact with the rustic and illiterate peasants. I wondered if some of Leonardos hesitancy reflected an enduring prejudice against Indigenous Andeans and their ways of life. Recently I had someone who raised another odd animal I eat (still haven't had cuy) tell my I was a psycopath for eating animals he raised as pets. This one is a winner in Sigsig, near Cuenca. One of them is Ecuador. Advocates for allowing the practice point out that cultural definitions and meanings of food and non-food vary from place to place. I found this WordPress post while Googling for English speaking people interested in raising guinea pigs/cuy for food. But Leonardo later conceded, Some people love it, others dont.. Cuy is high in protein and lower in cholesterol making it arguably a healthier choice than many other types of meat. Regardless of whether one would consider eating guinea pig, these creatures provide food for thought for how humans and other animals continue to be entangled in fascinating, fraught, and ever-changing ways. I have had four meals of guinea pig in Peru and Ecuador. Id rather raise chickens and have eggs AND chicken to consume, or goats. Guinea pigs may require less space than cattle; however to humanely raise them as a food source (if there is such a thing) they actually need more space than what people realize. But in Peru, the guinea pigs is not a revered pet; it is revered . A really interesting experiment. hide caption. Ensure water doesn't freeze in winter. I'd heard of people eating guinea pigs, but I'd never really spoken to someone to whom it was part of their culture. Pet lovers may want to feed guinea pig food to hamsters or vice versa, but both these animals have different needs. Many diners eat every last morsel, literally from head to toe. We actually have a shack in the back of my house where the guinea pigs dig tunnels and run around all day(and poop); plus we feed it grass that grows nearby. This is probably why my other dishwashers family was going to eat 40 of them for christmas--it would take a lot to feed a crowd. invariably generous in judgment and they understand. I love the storytelling In this piece- but I'd like to challenge you on the ethics of giving a guinea pig intended to be food away as a pet. BLASTN programs search SRA databases using a nucleotide query. 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After reflecting for a while, I realized thatI probably knew the answers to my questions all along. Regardless of whether one would consider eating guinea pig, these creatures provide food for thought for how humans and other animals continue to be entangled in fascinating, fraught, and ever-changing ways. Yum. The taste of a Guinea pig, or Cuy as it is commonly known, is somewhere between that of a rabbit and that of a duck. And what effects does this industrialized food system have on the farmers themselvesin Peru and elsewherewhose changing relationships with their animal companions are borne of economic pressure? Pets have names; animals raised for meat do not. The sinewy meat was dry and sparse, and I went away hungry. When it is on your plate you definitely know you are eating something unusual. These often rely on the violent exploitation of the bodies of Indigenous workers and nonhuman animals. The meat is flavorful, the texture is fatty and rich, and the skin somewhat tough or crispy, depending on how it's cooked. The Little Rock-based humanitarian organization Heifer International, which assists communities in enhancing their economies and streamlining local food production, is also promoting guinea pig husbandry in Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A dog's intentions toward a guinea pig it spotted in a pet shop has divided users on TikTok. According to activists, eating guinea pig is good for the environment. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Whilst this is pricey in comparison to most local dishes, it is generally only eaten on special occasions and is considered to be a delicacy in these areas. The fact that cuy is increasingly being served and eaten in Lima and other citiesand no longer just in highland Andean communitiesspeaks of the reemergence of an Indigenous presence in the countrys culinary landscape. My red meat consumption consists of deer, elk, and antelope. Your email address will not be published. Breeding guinea pigs is easy. The Wheekwell Guide shows what your guinea pig should be eating every day and which vitamins they require. Thank you for the support! I am an Englishman living in Portugal, on a mission to produce as much of the meat as I consume as I possibly can in a ethically produced, humanely slaughtered way, I have a colony of meat cavies and am yet to taste them, I thoroughly enjoyed your post.. Keep on writing my friend! One portion of Cuy is good to share between two people and also comes served with potatoes, beans and corn. It's called cuy, and it's a local dish that dates back to the 12th century A.D., when the Incas ruled the Andes. In Cuzco, where the Spaniards brought both Christian theology and a tradition of religious painting, there is a famous depiction of the Last Supper, the main course being served is, of course, cuy. Now, Urubamba customers can expect cuy on the menu about one weekend each month. All rights reserved. The anthropologist Ral Matta sees the recent elevation of Indigenous ingredients as a form of culinary gentrification. Simply put, as eating local becomes more fashionable around the world, wealthier elites have been rediscovering time-honored Indigenous foods and beverages. Then, one night my girlfriend stopped by. For example, some migrants from the Ecuadorian highlands who now live in the U.S. consume cuy, reaffirming a sense of cultural identity and belonging to their native land. What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? In the West, it would be fair to say we are all very removed from what ends up on our plate. Your email address will not be published. "Be careful where you buy your meat" Wise words Laura. Carmenspoke so happily about them, though, I had to know more. The babies are raised with just as much care and love. Whilst cooked guinea pig can be found all over Ecuador and Peru, there are certain places which are recommended more than others. Chewy Get help "Oh, she eating guinea pig! Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Guinea pig is now finding its way through food supply chains to home kitchens and restaurants around the world, further increasing its economic value and intensifying its industrialization. Like so many things, there might not be black and white answers, only shades of grey. I got an enthusiastic response:"Cuy!" . Introducing the Guinea Pig Feeding Guide. They take up less space and people can produce their own meat. Fish and poultry are more common than red meat in this diet. You have to "get right in there" and eat with your fingers, fork and knife won't do it. As I experienced firsthand on my visit to Peru, guinea pig is now a highlight of the tasting menus of Maido and Central, recognized as some of the best restaurants not only in Lima but in the world. Africa is a direct result of massive over-cultivation. I am currently installing a run in my garden to raise guinea pigs for our table (Norfolk, UK). Who knows. Roast it over a roaring fire to get its skin crackling, which rivals pork crackling. Celery Leaves Chop into small chunks and remove vein to avoid chocking, Swiss and Red chard Can cause diarrhoea, Spinach Use caution as too much can cause kidney and bladder stones, Brussels Sprouts Introduce slowly as may cause bloating, Parsley (curly or plain) It is high in calcium though. Writing in the 1990s, the sociologist Edmundo Morales pointed out in a study of guinea pig consumption that city dwellersparticularly "class- and ethnicity-conscious urban mestizos and Whites"would try to avoid practices like eating guinea pig that put them into "direct contact with the rustic and illiterate peasants.". The eating of guinea pig remains controversial, however. As a westerner, the only thing I can relate it to is pork. The Environmental Impact of Eating Guinea Pig. The Incas are believed to have domesticated the tender guinea pigs for more than 5,000 years. Our current way of living is a dizzy spell. Its incredibly hard to raise chickens in small backyards because they are prone to diseases, and need to be moved around like cattle in order to maintain health. I'm an American who has traveled a lot in Central and South America. But because the ocean is vast and giant squid live deep underwater, they remain elusive and are rarely . Pigs are super smart, (I used to have a potbelly I let sleep in the bed) as well as being one of my favorite things to cook. It wasn't the Taj Mahal, but I did have a great selection of fresh vegetables to give it every day. For instance, some proponents suggest that guinea pig consumption has less of an environmental impact than the beef and pork industries. My motto is if it lies on my plate long enough for me to stab it with a fork, Ill eat it.I envy you your ability to travel the world. Hamsters and guinea pigs have different food preferences and nutritious needs. This is why we have decided to put together our Guinea Pig feeding Guide Before reading this guide its useful to read our other articles on What can I feed my guinea pig along with What is a guinea pigs diet? Even long before European colonizers introduced chicken, pigs, and cows to South America. They always seemed to live in a constant state of alert too, prey animals that they are, the eons of being hunted and eaten by things cultivating a psyche of fear passed down genetically from generation to generation. I suspect that, like so many things, there's a critical period during development where the important imprints are formed, maybe if you got one of the German shepards as a very young puppy it could be steered towards being a companion animal. Garca describes commercial breeder farms where female guinea pigs are continuously impregnated until they are slaughtered, and she recounts how seeing these conditions up close during a visit to a farm north of Lima left her grieving. Its vital to get your guinea pigs used to a wide range of foods when theyre young as they tend to get rather fussy when they are older! No matter what is wrong with a guinea pig be it a kidney infection, abnormal tooth growth, disease of the liver, or even an abscess the only signs your guinea pig may show is not eating or drinking. She says the meat can be tough and stringy. You may best know the guinea pig as a nervous little pet that lives in a cage and eats alfalfa pellets. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The psychological differences of an animal raised for meat vs an animal raised to be a pet is definitely something to consider. And what effects does this industrialized food system have on the farmers themselvesin Peru and elsewherewhose changing relationships with their animal companions are borne of economic pressure? South American restaurants on both coasts seem to be pushing the trend, answering to demand mostly from Andean expats for what is considered a fine and valuable food in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. I'll admit that when comes to food, I'm not adventurous.