Gastronomy and Culinary Tour

Gastronomy has two definitions:

1) The art and practice of choosing, preparing and eating good food

2) The particular style of cookery of a region so, in our case, "Amazon gastronomy"

Thanks to the generous support from the National Geographic Society, Yachana is working to discover, cultivate and reintroduce the use of many of the "lost foods of the Amazon".  Extend your stay and be a part of this adventure!  What better way for guests of Yachana Lodge to experience the local Kichwa culture than through cooking? Guided by our indigenous Kichwa chefs, you will learn how to transform exotic and unusual ingredients into delicious dishes.

Examples of what you can make: tilapia wrapped in banana leaves, cooked over an open fire; llapingachos, patties of yucca and cheese; roasted beetle grubs (nicknamed "jungle bacon" by the lodge's guides); chicha, a fermented yucca drink; roasted coffee beans you have picked yourself; chocolate from cacao beans grown throughout the region. Turn the cacao beans into delicious jungle chocolate, one of the main ingredients for several of the delectable deserts served at the lodge.

You will be experiencing things you never dreamed of eating before. The rainforest is truly a cornucopia of exotic foods that will surprise and amaze you!

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