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Chinese cuisine's influence on Peruvian tables

CCTV.com

11-23-2016 00:27 BJT

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If you walk down the streets of Lima, the Peruvian capital, you'll be amazed to see many different kinds of Chinese restaurants. In fact, Chinese cuisine is quite popular among locals and they even try out some Chinese receipes at home.

If you walk down the streets of Lima, the Peruvian capital, you

If you walk down the streets of Lima, the Peruvian capital, you'll be amazed to see many different kinds of Chinese restaurants.

Peru's capital, Lima, has a long-established Chinese community that stretches back over a hundred and fifty years, with generations having grown up with both Latin and Chinese heritage. It gives the capital a vibrant mix of cultural diversity.

Chinese take up 10% of the Peruvian population, the highest percent in Latin America.

And they've also introduced many Chinese cultural elements into locals' lives, including Chinese cuisine.

Here in the capital Lima, there are an estimated over 7,000 Chinese restaurants.

You can also find a variety of Chinese spices and seasonings in local supermarkets, and a number of Peruvians even try to tackle some Chinese dishes themselves.

Founded by Chinese immigrants in the middle of the 19th century, Lima's Chinatown is believed to be the oldest in South America.

More than 150 years later, it continues to be a hub for commerce and for Chinese organizations, schools and even newspapers. But it's best known for its Cantonese cuisine which Peruvians call 'Chifa'.

This restaurant is quite popular among locals, for combining Peruvian ingredients with Chinese cuisine.

"This dish uses purple corn which is a local ingredient, and mixes it with sesame to make a fried rice ball. It's really a symbol of the friendship between the two countries," said Ou Enli, chef.

Perhaps that's the secret to Chinese cuisine's popularity among Peruvians: cultural fusion and collision for a better taste.

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