Located in the Andean Lake District of the La Araucanía Region, Curarrehue is characterized for being a locality with a rich presence of the Mapuche culture.  Their gastronomy is what mostly stands out when visiting this town.

 

The Mapuche gastronomy is based on the use of different food found in nature, through cultivation, fruit recollection and animal grazing and breeding, so their gastronomy will vary in accordance to the season and the area they are located.  Their cuisine is based on cereals, seeds, tubers, legumes, meats, sprouts, fungi, aromatic herbs, fruits, vegetables and all the food that can be obtained from the land.

 

Curarrehue is located in the Pewenche area, which means people of the piñon (or pine nut in English), produced by the Araucaria tree; it is the main fruit and product that characterizes this culture.  Their menu includes salads and pine nut soups, as well as their traditional dishes and beverages, such as cazuelas, catutos, muday, merken, sopaipillas, rescoldo tortillas and other preparations with the local fungi, where the digueñes and changles become the protagonists.

 

Aside from tasting their culture, you can visit the Trawupeyün Intercultural Village Cultural Center, housing a museum and a handcraft and culinary market, putting forth the customs and traditions of the Mapuche people.  Many cultural activities take place here, and it is opened all year round.

 

This area possesses a great amount of camping and cabin accommodation options, with many bus transportation options to choose from.  A perfect place to reconnect with nature and taste some of the extraordinary Mapuche gastronomy.

 

Related News in Chinese: Curarrehue: 马普切美食文化的中心