Venezuelan Food



Posted: Monday, March 13, 2006

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Venezuelan food is known for its amazing variety. There is a distinct native Indian influence in Venezuelan food. Most visitors to Venezuela would have heard of the term “arepa", which is a sort of bread, prepared with corn flour. Arepa is a big industry in Venezuela and known for its great taste and nutritional value. Tequenos and cheese balls are also much sought after delicacies from Venezuela.

Come Christmas Eve and, everywhere in Venezuela, a special food is cooked in literally every household. It is known as “hallaca". Hallaca is a sort of pie made up of corn-meal and usually stuffed with chicken or pork. Olives and raisins are also part of the ingredients. The entire combination is wrapped around in plantain leaves and then left to boil.

Venezuela being a tropical country, the varieties of fruits and vegetables is rich. Take a walk down any market and you will know, what we mean. The variety is truly amazing; apart from giving a picturesque and colorful look to the markets.

Corn was the Venezuela’s major crop till food crops took over. Most of the country’s corn comes from the central plains. Corn is considered the staple food of Venezuelans. Corn overtook coffee as the nation’s leading crop, over a period of time. Sorghum is also widely cultivated in Venezuela. The soil of the country and the climatic conditions are ideally suited for the growth of this food crop. Rice is another major food grain grown in Venezuela. Tubers, legumes and spices are also cultivated in various parts of Venezuela. The important ones being cultivated here are yucca, potato and sweet potatoes. Vegetables are grown in plenty with the principal vegetables being tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, beans, to name only a few. With such vast variety, it comes as no surprise that Venezuelan food is considered special throughout the world.

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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Anonymous
3 years 328 days ago.
This was great information for a project!!!!
» left by Anonymous 3 years 6 days ago.
oh yezzzzzzzzzzzzz.
» left by Anonymous
1 year 246 days ago.
this was so helpful on my reading project thank you
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