Most Interesting Traditional Foods
Never mind fast food, here are the communities that are preserving the great old home cooked recipes.
In every holiday destination I have visited, I have noticed an ongoing theme. Nearly everywhere I have visited has a McDonald’s or a greasy kebab house on the corner of a back alley. When I visited Egypt back in 2009, I was amazed to find a McDonald’s right in the middle of nowhere! It soon came to my attention that travellers are not always able to able to experience the real culture and local cuisine that destinations have to offer.
Whatever happened to the traditional foods that are native to each country and enjoying the delicious local cuisine on offer? Here are some interesting traditional foods which might entice you…
Mustard oil pickles, India
There are some great places to eat whilst on holiday in India. Originated in Mumbai, India, the ancient method of preserving food by making a pickle has been used for centuries. In the height of the summer when the sun was at its hottest, locals living in rural areas where food was not as accessible, used to spend days cutting vegetables and fruit for pickling. Passed down from generation to generation, families in India have perfected their own signature pickle recipes that are used to preserve and eat with delicious Indian curries. Popular pickles in India include lemon, mango, onion and the renowned chilli pickle. Many recipes include a mixture of mustard oil and ground spices to give them that authentic Indian flavour!
- Mustard Oil Pickles – Mumbai India
Chuno from Peru: one of the oldest foods in the world
The potato remains one of the most sustainable foods in the world, millions of people around the world consume tonnes of potatoes every year. However, for Andean towns in Peru, extreme temperature variations in the region can cause trouble with growing crops. However, these extreme conditions present the perfect method of preserving what would otherwise be inedible potatoes. Peru is where Chuno Blanco originates from and archaeological evidence has found in the Andes, Chuno is a 10 million year old food source.
Don’t forget to look out for Chuno potatoes on your next Peru holiday and tour. I’ve been told they are a real treat!
- Peruvian Children
Guarana, Brazil
Famous for being an ingredient in soda and fruit drinks in health stores, this coffee bean sized fruit is used as a sweetener in soft drinks and energy shots. Not many people know that this tiny fruit originates from the Amazon Rainforest. Members of the Brazilian Satere-Maue tribe use an ancient technique of mashing the plant seeds into a hard bar that is used to grate on food and into drinks. These seeds are very rich in caffeine and vitamins and many tribes use them to combat fatigue and stimulate brain activity.
Guarana Berries in the Amazon Rainforest
Siwa Oasis Dates, Egypt
Founded by Alexander the Great in 330 BC, Siwa Oasis was once the most inaccessible of all Egypt’s oasis. Famous for its dates, the area boasts some 300,000 date trees which are considered some of the finest in the world. It is believed that the mineral waters of Siwa and the saline soils give Siwan dates their unique sweet taste.
Siwa Oasis Dates in Egypt
What is the most interesting traditional food you have tried?
