Essay About Guinea Pigs

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Guinea pigs have been eaten in South America for hundreds of years, long before they became pets in the West. Eating roasted or fried guinea pig is an ancient tradition in parts of South America, and still common today. But in other parts of the world the animal is known as cuddly pets for children. In the Andean mountains of Ecuador, guinea pigs aren’t treated as pets; they’re bred, boiled and deep-fried for dinner. Guinea pig or Cuy as it is called in South America is a local delicacy that’s unique to the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Guinea pig is a vital part of traditional Andean culture, in many more ways besides their importance as a basic food, they are crucial in a variety of socially significant feasting rituals. Guinea pig is most often eaten for special occasions, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years to the Incan empire. Many Indian families in rural Ecuador keep guinea pigs, which they kill and eat. The meat is known to be delicious, but there is very little of it. Ecuadorians in the United States have trouble getting the guinea pig meat. But beef, chi...

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