Guyana, one of the four smallest countries in South America is the only Nation State, part of the Commonwealth of Nations, in this continent, and the only English speaking country in South America.
Its population is formed by aboriginal natives, Europeans, (mostly English people), African people, Chinese people, Indians ….all this composed a fused nationality using the English language or the Creole. The origin of the name Creole comes from the days when the Spaniards started calling their descendants Creole, or Criollos, in order to make it relevant that their children were born in the new continent. Actually it includes all generations born in the continent, be African, French or Indian.
This mixed culture also influenced its food, and because of that, either Chinese food or spices used by the Indians, now are part of the Guyana cuisine. In this cuisine, green peppers, onions and celery are the favorites!
Creole dishes have incorporated spicy sauces, fresh vegetables, fried meats, seafood. Creole food is the mixture created centuries ago, when Spaniards came to America, and the Africans were brought.
So we can say that the Guyana cuisine, because of its roots is recognized for its simplicity and freshness. Though it may be complicated in the preparations, the results will always seem simple and fresh.
Guyanese food is prepared very carefully with the proper amount of spices, and maybe they also color the dishes to make them fancier. They prepare vegetables in many different ways, and because of that diversity, if we add the large amount of cereals they have, we have their traditional dishes. As they also produce sugar, and rum, the desserts are very rich in flavor and always very sweet and tasty.
They have inherited from India, their curries, for their meats, and chickens…from Africa different ways to cook rice and chicken, from Portugal they received their love for pork (usually made for Christmas). Are we then surprised that the Guyanese love to eat, love their food?
When in Guyana, remember that trying their beer is almost an obligation…it’s so very good!