Exploring the secret lagoon of Yacuma and the biomes of the Amazon region
15/10/2023
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15/12/2023A guide to Napo's Amazonian gastronomy
Exploring with all your senses the value of a destination is magical, there are new sounds, and bright colors that you chase with your eyes, there are new textures in the tree trunks that mark the path you walk along and; Of course, there are flavors that you have not tried before, local flavors that keep ancestral traditions. Exploring a destination through its food is our favorite way to get to know the Amazon.
And there are a series of factors that make up this delicious gastronomy:
Fresh and local products
The people who live around Yacuma EcoLodge are the main suppliers of our ingredients; In fact, it is quite likely that when you walk through the cocoa fields to reach the secret lagoon, you will find the same cocoa ready to eat on the table.
Best of all, we have the opportunity to make connections with the people who grow and collect the products with which we prepare our food, this allows us to know their origin and the natural techniques with which they were treated. We know very well where our food comes from and who grew it, so we are sure of the freshness of each ingredient when we prepare our renowned Fish Fillet Maito.
Fish fillet maito
This recipe is about tilapia wrapped in bijao leaf that is brought to the charcoal embers; When it is ready we accompany it with cooked yucca, green plantain, palm heart and garabato yuyo.
Something important about this dish is that it is an ancestral preparation that ancient societies consumed in important celebrations.
Amazonian biodiversity is reflected in each ingredient
The countless plant and animal species that inhabit the rainforest allow us to fully explore the local cuisine, which is largely made up of cassava, one of the main products of the Amazon Basin.
The traditional Amazonian yucca
In Ecuador and especially in the Amazon jungle, yucca represents the history of ancestral peoples; They knew it long before the conquest and prepared starches, flours and the renowned chicha with it, which is usually served as food or as an alcoholic beverage after its fermentation time.
In Yacuma, cassava is also the protagonist of many of our delicious dishes.
Green banana
Without a doubt, the green banana is the emblematic food of Ecuador, although its main production is found in the coastal region, there are a couple of variations in the Amazon,
For the Kichwa communities, banana is a daily food, its enormous nutritional value, and it can be prepared in ways that are as versatile as they are delicious, it is a breath that you can consume throughout the day.
During your stay in Yacuma, you can try some exquisite yucca tortillas, patacones, green plantain cream, chifles and ripe plantain accompanied by fresh cheese.
Ancestral knowledge and traditions
Indigenous communities are the key to preserving history in the Amazon region. Their customs and traditions are what maintain the preservation of each element in nature.
A clear example is the traditional Guayusa drink, the spiritual value of its consumption has been transmitted from generation to generation among these communities until it ended up spreading to the world that now knows the medicinal value of this plant.
Guayusa tea as a welcome
On your gastronomic walk through Napo you will find the traditional Guayusa Drink; Napo is known as the capital of the ancient Guayusa plant, the infusion that indigenous people make with the toothed leaves of this plant is an incredible energizer and antioxidant.
The Kichwa and Shuar groups are the ones who continue to give mysticism to the plant that means purification and increased power. When you arrive at Yacuma EcoLodge you will be received with this drink so that your trip begins with positive energy.
Fusion of cultures and flavors
Those who come to the Amazon jungle will notice in their food the influence of other cultures that have arrived in the Amazon, so at the hotel the food is a ground for cultural encounters, you can find everything from a green cream accompanied by chifles; even a tiramisu to close the day’s lunch in a delicious way.
Vegetarian options
In addition, our Lodge also has vegetarian and vegan options for those who prefer it, so you can find Spaghetti bathed in tomato sauce or lentil meatballs, although the favorite food of the vegetarians who have arrived are palm heart maito with vegetables and our delicious breaded mushrooms.
