Great Products Argentina
Writes: Laura Litvin (@laulitvin)
Domesticated more than 10.000 years ago, the pope went from the culture of the Andean peoples to the table good gourmet food. Here we present all their secrets.
One of the foods most powerful in the Andes they are potatoes or also called potatoes in other countries. Its importance in food is fundamental, that is why United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato. It is the fourth crop after corn, wheat and rice.
Treasure of American gastronomy
They have always been one of the great american treasures who traveled all over the planet. Taken to Europe by the Spanish in the XNUMXth century, this tuber adapted quickly and became basic food for thousands of people. It was support of famines, wars and times with rapid population growth. Today potatoes are produced not only in America, but also in China, India and Europe.
In northern Argentina, potato They are without a doubt the darling of the table (along with the corn). It is known that the native peoples cultivated and stored them with great intelligence since ancient times.
Take for example the case of the chuño potatoes. This method consists of exposing the potatoes to cycles of freezing and sunning alternately. Thus, it is achieved that they become dehydrated and then can keep for a long time.
Thus, strong, rustic and very nutritious, pope adapted to all conditions. Withstands extreme heat and cold, high altitudes and even little water. However, nature wise offers as many varieties of potatoes as the extent of the Andes mountains allows it. It is in the South American Andean highlands the site where its greatest proliferation is recorded.
The traveler who comes to these lands will see that the restaurant menus offer "Papines" in different preparations. It can be in stews, within the empanadas or alone, barely with salt. That name is your small size, but the reality is that it is only a question of marketing.
The smallness is due to the fact that they harvest early for a question of market demand, but if they are left in the ground they reach larger sizes.
Infinity of potato varieties
Blue, White, Collajera, Red, Malagasy, Purple, Black Ojosa, Oca, Sallama, Sani, Santa María, Runa, Tuni or Cuarentona. All of them are just some of the varieties that are grown in Argentina. Just take a walk through the markets of native products of Jujuy and Salta. We can appreciate an infinite range of colors, shapes and textures.
There are different festivals in honor of the pope, we will have to look at the calendar so as not to miss these festivities in the different provinces of northern Argentina. Welcome, the potato they always wait for you to enjoy its earthy flavors. Also characteristic sweets.
