101 Food Items You Won't Find in the Wonderfully Biodiversified country of Peru
11. Bagels
No Bagels in Peru? Yes, unbelievable but true. There are no bagels available in Peru. The reason is that Peru imports only cheap white flour with little or not protein (wheat gluten) so making bagels is impossible and bagels require a high gluten flour.
12. Parsnips
This is one of my favorites. I used to love eating these with lentils or putting them in soups.Unfortunately they are not available in Peru, the land of biodiversity.
I miss eating roasted parsnips during the winter.
13. Anaheim Chiles
This is my favortie chile pepper. It is widely used in Mexican and Mexican influenced cuisine. They are especially good when they are roasted. Although they could easily be grown in Peru, they aren't and are not available commercially. Peruvians are too obessesed with their yellow chili aji pepper, which apparently fell down from heaven, to try any other variety.
14. Poppy Seeds
If you like poppy seed breads/pastries or need them for an Indian curry you are out of luck. There are not obtainable in Peru.
15. Cardamom
Hard to believe it, but this common spice is unobtainable in Peru. Peruvians, in spite of what they say, use a very small variety of spices (mostly cumin, oregano, garlic). Most spices and herbs commonly used elsewhere are virtually unknown here.
If you want to make tasty Middle Eastern or Indian dishes, or indulge in Middle Eastern style coffee or Indian Chai or even bake some Cardamom pastries or bread you will have to have someone send you some from outside of Peru.
16. Galangal
Another essential ingredient that is no where to be found in Peru. If you like South East Asian cuisine you are out of luck. Not even the dried version of Galangal is available in Peru. Your best bet is to bring some dried galangal or have someone mail you some.
17. Smoked Paprika
If you were thinking of making some Spanish dishes during your stay in Peru you may have to think again if you haven't brought Smoked Paprika with you. It is not available in Peru. Peruvian paprika is low quality and susceptible to mold.Your best bet is to buy regular paprika imported from Argentina or the USA. However they don't import any smoked paprika into Peru.
18. Saffron
Again this ingredient is unobtainable in Peru. Be aware that many stores sell safflower leaves labelled as saffron in Peru. Safflower has absolutely no taste. The only resemblance to saffron is the fact that it provides a yellow dye.
If you want to make authentic paella, or indulge yourself in Middle Eastern and Indian delicacies you will have to have someone mail you some saffron.
19. Purple Sweet Potatoes
What fond memories I have of these luscious purple sweet potatoes. They were so sweet and delicious that they seemed more like a sinful desert than a healthy vegetable. Unfortunately these are not available in Peru. Only two mediocre varieties of sweet potatoes are available in Peru (no wonder they aren't very popular here). One is an orange variety which is often not very sweet (and often has strange black spots within) while another variety which has purple skin and white flesh with strange black spots is truly inedible with a strange medicinal taste and not sweet at all.
Yogurt? Are you serious? How can a country not have yogurt? In Peru you will find watered down yogurt drinks but try asking for some plain solid yogurt you may need for your Middle Eastern or Indian curry, and you will get a blank stare, as if you were talking about something from outer space. Your best bet is to make some yourself as the runny yogurt they sell here is filled with sugar and artifical flavorings and colors, and it will ruin your dish.
Watch for my next update which will include food items numbers 21 through 30 (out of 101) that are not available in Peru.
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