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Link to original article: Latin american cuisine

Native American influence
Many of these cuisines come from many different Native American sources. Today is it common for Native American people to eat traditional foods. Cornbread is a food in the United States that is though to come from the Native American people. Native Americans in Mexico and Central America used corn and beans as their main crops. These crops were used to make dishes such as Pupusas, Tamales, Pozole, Chuchitos, Corn tortillas, Tacos etc. The Native Americans crops used in South America were potatoes, corn, and chuño. These can be found in Colombian, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Bolivian, and Paraguayan dishes including Arepas, Papa a la Huancaína, Humitas, Chipa Guasu, Locro, and many more. “The fact is, no two Latin American countries have identical cuisines. Each cuisine is a quilt made up of its own cultural blend.”

African influence
Africans also brought cuisine traditions and cooking techniques. The Africans usually received the most undesirable cuts of meat. These meat cuts included shoulders and intestines. This is were the dish Menudo derived from. This was also a common practice in the southern United States, where slaves were given the pig’s intestines as their food source.

European influence
The Europeans brought their own cooking techniques but easily adapted native fruits and vegetable to produce their own food dishes. “The European influence in Buenos Aires is imposing and undeniable. Established by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century, the city of Buenos Aires has long been guided by European customs and trends. The architecture, the food, the landscaping, and, mostly, the people of Buenos Aires are in many ways exact replicas of that which you can find in a major European city, such as Paris.”   Europe is a very diverse continent and because of this, many of their own cuisines are already mixes of dishes from all over the world. Latin America was greatly influenced by Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Asian influence
China and Japan were the main influences from Asia. They brought spices and styling of food. Along with these two countries, Armenia and Israeli food dishes have influenced Latin America due to a large immigration from these countries.

Caribbean Influence
The idea of Caribbean cuisine includes a mixing of Amerindian, African, and European food dishes. “Sugar cane, transported initially from Asia throughout the Mediterranean, eventually transformed the ecology and economy or the islands of the Caribbean, while dramatically altering the tastes of Europe and the Americans.”   Seafood is the most popular form of Caribbean cuisine because of the location of many Caribbean islands. Many of these Caribbean seafood dishes are served with rice either as a side or as part of the dish itself.

Eating Traditions
There are many distinctive types of eating traditions related to Latin American Cuisine. Many of the traditions come from special holidays and days where specific foods are consumed while celebrating. The most popular traditions frequently occur at gatherings or celebrations with family. An example of one such tradition is the preparation of hallacas in Venezuela for Christmas and New Year's celebrations. It is so important because it is a ritual among family members, meaning that every family member has a role in making the hallacas no matter their age.

Another tradition, also in celebration of the New Year, is the practice of eating lentils on the first day of the New Year because it is thought to bring prosperity for the rest of that year. Another popular holiday celebrated throughout Latin America is Three Kings Day, also known as Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6th each year to complete the culmination of the season of Christmas. Family's often feast in honor of God's manifestation.

One of the most well known cuisine traditions celebrated during the Epiphany is the preparing and eating of the King's Cake. One traditional thing about it is that most people prepare it in the shape of a wreath and it can often be celebrated with friends and family year after year.