User:As!28

Food In Chile

Chile is known as being a country with a rich culture, and heritage, and this is aptly represented in their food. Chilean Cuisine is very expansive and diverse as it has influences from many South American, and European countries.

Economics of the Chilean Food Industry

After the mining industry, the food sector in Chile generates the most revenue for the economy. The food sector accounts for 20% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is the value of all products and services produced in the country in a certain period of time. The Chilean food sector has been growing at an average rate of 12% for the past eight years, and it continues to grow every year. Recently, Chile has begun to export more foods to other countries. It is estimated that the country's exports accumulate to around $16 billion annually. Additionally, Chile is the largest exporter of grapes, plums, pacific Salmon, and fish filets in the world.

This is a Chilean empanada

Chilean Food Compared to other South American Foods

Due to the fact that the majority of South America speaks the same language and shares similar cultural beliefs, it is fitting that much of the food is similar as well. This is also true with Chilean cuisine as much of its food is similar to the cuisine of Peru. Some of the similar foods are ceviche, pastel de cholo, and pollo(chicken) picante. Another example is the Empanada, a stuffed bread pastry, which is a very popular food throughout all of South America. In Chile, however, an Empanada is usually much heavier than in other countries and it contains many more ingredients. Generally, the majority of dishes in Latin America are consumed by every country.

Influences in Chilean Cuisine

Chile has many different influences in their culture and cuisine. One of the earliest influences was by the Spanish in the 16th century, when members of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition entered the country. Another influence is Germans. There is a big German influence in Chile to this day. Some of the dishes eaten by the natives incorporate some German recipes. Along with the Germans, there are many other Europeans countries that have influenced Chile such as France, Britain, and Italy to name a few. However, the oldest and greatest influence on Chilean food is the Incas whose agriculture and irrigation techniques are still used to this day by many Chileans.

Chilean Diet

Chileans no matter the province, have a similar eating structure. Many Chileans eat 3 to 4 meals a day. They start with breakfast (desayuno), then they have a large lunch (almuerzo), followed by a light snack and tea in the afternoon (onces), and they finish it off with dinner at around 9 PM ( la cena).

Breakfast

In Chile, breakfast is centered around bread. It is either in the form of rolls or toast, and it is usually baked fresh that day. Bread is a staple of Chilean food as many popular dishes involve bread in some manner. One of the most popular Chilean dishes is marraqueta which is a French roll that is folded in half. Some other popular dishes are hallalas and pan amasado.

Lunch

The longest and biggest meal in Chile is lunch. Originally, lunch was scheduled between 1 and 4 PM to accommodate the meal and a short nap. This custom has since slowly faded, and now it is mainly practiced in small towns. The meal itself ,however, has not changed as it still consists of several courses and is a time for people to relax. Lunch usually consists of an appetizer, followed by the main dish which usually comprises of fish. It is finished off by a dessert and tea.

Midday Snack

Coffee and tea are also very important in Chile as they are typically consumed after every meal and as a midday snack. The most popular brand of tea in Chile is Nescafe.This meal can range from a light snack to a full sized meal which then would include bread, meat, and cheese. For some, this is their last meal of the day.

Dinner

Dinner is usually eaten later in the day. A typical dinner consists of a meat dish, usually fish, along with a side of pasta, and bread. All of these foods are staples in the Chilean diet.

Wine in Chile

Chilean Vineyard

Chile has had a long tradition with producing and exporting high quality wine, but it wasn't until the 1980s did the country see a rise in the production of wine and be known a global powerhouse. In the 1990s Chile saw its involvement in the global wine market go up 27% each year. The rapid growth is due to the fertile land, improved techniques, and advancements of technology. This time period of rapid growth and expansion of the wine market has been nicknamed " The Wine Revolution".

Colchagua Valley

The Colchagua Valley has been the epicenter of wine in Chile for hundreds of years. This valley is around 100 miles from the capital, Santiago. Many reasons have contributed to the growth of wine production. One of the biggest is the investment in new technologies that have increased the productivity of the vineyards. Another important factor is the employment of workers that have a specialized knowledge in producing wine, such as oenologists and agronomists. These workers have used their scientific understanding of growing wine to increase the productivity as well.

Geography of Chile

Chile has a very unique geography. It stretches out vertically for over 2,600 miles, but it is only a 100 miles wide. This accounts for the extreme climate change from its northernmost point to its southernmost. Chile is also home to other extremes like the Atacama Desert which is known as one of Earth's driest places, and the Central Valley which is known as being extremely fertile, and the capital of wine production in Chile. Chile is also unique because it is home to the world's most expansive mountain range, and the second highest in the world, the Andes. The Andes spans seven countries in South America, and its highest point is at more than 22,000 feet. All of these geographical characteristics account for the disparity in food in Chile. Chilean Cuisine is split up into three distinct regions Northern Chile, Southern Chile, and Central Valley/Coast. Each of these regions has different diets and eats different types of food.

Cooking in Chile

Kitchens in Chile have a basic setup with a gas or electric range with an oven. Wealthier families usually hire a cook to help out in preparing meals. Common cooking techniques in Chile are roasting, baking, stewing, and frying. Chile has several distinct ingredients, spices, and seasonings that can only be found in Chile. An example is manjar which is a caramelized sweetened condensed milk that is usually spread on bread. Another is merken which is a spice that consists of dried, smoked chilies, cumin, coriander, and salt. Chilean Food is described by many as having a kick but not spicy. Ironically, Chili peppers are not used regularly in Chile.