Peruvian cuisine reflects the country’s history with a variety that is unique in the world. If we Peruvians have something to be grateful for in our culinary world, it would be the significant influence that the Arab culture that was integrated through the migration of Europeans from the lands of the Iberian Peninsula, the Al Andaluz, where the Arab presence was approximately 800 years with an important Caliphate established in Cordova.
The introduction of the two worlds of different cultures helped shaped the wealth of a land called Peru — known for its cultural diversity with an exquisite and tremendously varied gastronomy. As mentioned in our previous article on the Arab presence in Peru, confirmed Arab manifestations in many aspects and obviously in our cuisine.
Many typical Peruvian dishes can be easily recognised by its unique Arab touch, especially in the current variety of desserts where honey nougat, rice pudding (Roz b Halib) and Peruvian picarones are accompanied by dried fruits, sugar cane, from syrup (sugar dissolved in water) as well as many products that we can taste with some familiarity in the meals that are offered in many restaurants in Doha.
This article is over two years old, but still noteworthy,
Again, we see the enormous out-sized Arab influence in South America.
Some more from Peru:
Posted on YouTube: February 2, 2022
Posted on YouTube: October 7, 2021
Again, the influence of Arab culture can be found all over Latin America.
There was a massive immigration to Barranquilla – a coastal city on Colombia’s north coast – during the early 20th century, and not just Arabs but also Jews. Here are some videos about Barranquilla.
The Title includes: Arab Fast Food in Barranquilla
Posted on YouTube: August 11, 2023
A bellydance school from Barranquilla participated in an Arab Festival in Medellin. Notice the Palestinian flag. There will be a song about Palestine later in the video.
Posted on YouTube: November 16, 2022
This foodie (below) tries the Arab food in Barranquilla.
Title: Trying Arab Food in Barranquilla
Posted on YouTube: March 18, 2019
There are roughly 3.2 million Arabs in Colombia. Most are Christians. This probably explains why Colombia recalled its ambassador to Israel during this 2023 Gaza War.
There are very few Muslims.
Though this next snippet talks about Palestinians in Colombia in general, the effect of Palesitnian immigration would apply to Barranquilla as well.
Today, according to approximate calculations from the Palestinian embassy – since there is no official census – in Colombia there are between 100,000 and 120,000 Palestinians, of the first, second, third and fourth generation, [although] some of [them] don’t feel like it.
…
Of these, about 90% are located on the Atlantic Coast, especially in Barranquilla, and the remaining 10% would be distributed in the rest of the country. “Many preferred to stay on the coast because geographically it reminds them more of the Middle East than Bogotá, without a doubt : the climate, being coastal, or common customs such as sitting in the patio of the house, between four and six in the morning. late, to wait for the heat to go down, to chat with the neighbors,” says Montero.
Of course, there are also Syrians, Lebanese, etc. in Barranquilla, and Colombia as well.
A Lebanese restaurant in Barranquilla (below).
Posted on YouTube: July 31, 2021
BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE
The history of Colombia gets more complex, though.
During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were tossed out of Spain. Many fled to the New World, where whites were in demand by the colonial authorities, and initially few questions were asked.
The upshot is that a lot of Crypto-Jews went to Latin America, and about 23% of Latinos carry Jewish DNA markers. Colombia is famous for having Crypto-Jews. Some have converted back to Judaism.
Posted on YouTube: May 14, 2023
The Jews and Palestinians of Barranquilla tend to get along. The war is a long way away. The mayor has recently noted Barranquilla’s history of tolerance. (Click Here – in Spanish)
Another break from dealing with Latin Armerica’s Arab communities:
Most Latin American countries have small Jewish populations. Hence the effect of the Jewish community on local politics is usually minimal. Not so for Argentina.
ARGENTINA HAS THE SIXTH LARGEST COMMUNITY OF JEWS IN THE WORLD (Click Here)
In Argentina, the Jewish community was quite noteable.
Posted on YouTube: 2020
Even Juan Perón had a Jewish advisor for economics, José Ber Gelbard.
Juan Perón and José Ber Gelbard
To set the record straight, Perón was not a Nazi. He admired Mussolini’s fascist economics, but not necessarily Mussolini’s politics. And while Perón allowed some Nazis in to Argentina after World War 2, he did so chiefly to get their technical skills. Perón was not an anti-Semite himself, and he certainly could not have imposed Nazi racial policies on a Latin country … and he knew it.
The Jewish community in Argentina used to be around two percent (2%) of the population in the past. That compares roughly to the historical percentage of the Jewish community in the United States in the 1960s.
There was a massive flight of Jews during the time of the military junta (1976-83), but even then, a massive amount of Jews remained in Argentina.
With around 180,000 Jews today, most of whom live in the Buenos Aires area, the Jews still have a massive effect on Argentina’s culture as well.
Because of this, Argentina’s reaction to the 2023 Gaza War is muted — at least when compared to the histrionics seen in Chile, where the influential politicized community of Palestinian-Chileans (Chilestinos) can force government policies.
So, taking an aside from the present (2023) Gaza War, let’s take another look at Jewish Buenos Aires.
Posted on YouTube: 2021
Jews even had a remarkable influence on Argentina’s tango.
Posted on YouTube: 2009
There was the tragic bombing of the Jewish Center in 1994, but that was done by Iranians.
Overall, Argentina has been quite friendly to Jews. Yes, there were some bigots at times, but Argentina was friendly enough to attract a massive amount of Jewish immigrants to the country from Europe.
Posted on YouTube: August 14, 2023
(Click Here) – This restaurant is world famous!
Posted on YouTube: Oct 16, 2022
This Jewish factor counts in world affairs. Chile recalled its ambassador (Click Here) from Israel over issues concerning the 2023 Gaza War. Argentina did not.
So, who will decide in the contest between Arabs and Jews for the sympathies of Latin Americans?
The answer may surprise you.
In South America, it is the Evangelical Christians (who are usually Christian Zionist) who are starting to make their mark.
Posted on YouTube: May 15, 2023
The Evangelicals are growing fast in Latin America.
In Brazil, the population is 31% Evangelical.
In Guatemala, the population is 40% Evangelical.
In Honduras, the population is almost 40% Evangelical.
In Chile, the population is 18% Evangelical.
In Argentina, the population is 15% Evangelical.
In Chile, this is noticeable, as Palestinian-Chileans – who tend to be Eastern Christians or Roman Catholics – have complained about the Evangelicals. In Brazil, the former president, Bolsonaro, who was Evangelical, was very pro-Israel. True! He lost the last election, but under questionable circumstances. Pro-Israel feeling runs large in Brazil, even though it has roughly 15 million Arab-Brazilians.
In Honduras, when the Evangelicals hit 50%, it may not matter any longer what the powerful Palestinian-Hondurans think.
A lot of countries, who are pro-Palestine today, may shift their foreign policies very soon, as the Evangelical communities keeps growing, and very rapidly so.
Source: The Economist
April 5th, 2023
Marabá And Salvador
Evangelical Christianity is the fastest-growing religion in the region. Polls on religious beliefs vary widely, but around a fifth of Latin Americans identify as evangelicals, up from a tenth in 2002. In Guatemala and Honduras, they are set to overtake Roman Catholics as the dominant religion by 2030.
It is the Evangelicals who will decide this battle.
In the meantime, the Jews of Argentina are fascinating.
This was streamed live on YouTube: November 2, 2023
This is an Arab restaurant in the Patagonia section of Argentina, in the city of El Calafate, in the southwest section of the Santa Cruz province. The city has a population of 25,000.
This is very far south, approaching the polar regions. El Calafate is named after a yellow flow, and is near Argentina’s Glacier National Park.
The point is to show how ubiquitous Arab culture and food are in Latin America, so common that it can even be found in subpolar regions.
