When we got Venezuela, we knew that it would be a very interesting country to research. And, we were right. Venezuela has an interesting history, good food, and some cool traditions. Their lifestyle is a little different, but there will be one feature that you will right away compare to ours. Without any further ado, let’s begin.
History (Anna):
Before Europeans arrived, the inhabitants were Indians. They called Venezuela paradise, living in tropical forests, grasslands, and beaches. There were three major Indian groups;the Arawak, Carib, Chibcha. All groups practiced farming to a certain point, but it wasn’t necessary because land was rich with resources. The people fished for, hunted, and gathered their food. The Chibcha …show more content…
He got British soldiers to help and his followers to protest, marching in Andes mountains, getting freedom for Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Many of his followers were natives of Venezuela.
Independence was hard for Venezuela, going through wars, civil fights, dictatorship throughout the century. Some dictators wanted to help change the country, but most have used their positions for personal benefit. In the 1840s, there were border arguments with Guyana’s British colony, and still are, although all out war never started.
In the early 1900s, economy finally began to rise when oil was discovered, and by 1920s, wealth was being gained. However it didn’t benefit the lower class much. Dictators still ruled until 1947, when Romulo Betancourt became leader of protesters, rewriting constitution. Romulo Gallegos was the first ever president-elect, but got outvoted by another dictator. From 1963 and 25 years later, things went well; another oil boom made Venezuela more wealthy in the mid 1970s, but only the higher classes benefited much, and the prices dropped in the late 1980s, making the country fall into crisis …show more content…
Because of how big Venezuela is, food there varies from region to region. The cuisine is believed to be influenced by Europeans, like Italians, Spanish, and French, as well as areas of Africa.
In the coastal region of Venezuela, many dishes include fish, crayfish, shellfish, fish soups and stews. Some special fish include pargo and dorado. Certain dishes can include coconut.
In the Andean region, almost all of the food is made of wheat. In rural markets, one can find cured meats and sausage. Trout from rivers and streams is also used in some dishes.
The Amazon region is especially different from the rest of Venezuela; the main ingredients of many dishes are corn, beans, bananas, yucca. Some people eat turtles, monkeys, deep fried ants, birds, tapirs. Others mainly live on bread of yacca, called casabe.
In all of these regions, food is offered in a wide variety of dishes and desserts. Some dishes you may be familiar with include Venezuela’s version of pasta - again, influence from Italy - and Pasticho, which is lasagna. Guasacaca is refered to as “queen of spices” in Venezuela. The Ingredients are avocado, onions, garlic, peppers, coriander, and parsley. Some desserts are Besito de coco; round coconut cookies, and Cannoli pastry tubes with cheese and chocolate/honey