Inca Ways of Food

By Joshua, Katie B., and Brennen

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Crops
3. Meats
4. Techniques
5. Glossary
6. Bibliography

Introduction

Terrance farming

FUN FACT! The most famous Inca city, Machu Picchu, shows an
example of one of the least commonly thought about in the Inca
Empire. Terrance farming! When people think of the Inca, they think,
Machu Picchu! Most people probably dont think about how the Inca
were the first to grow potatoes, or that some of the things they ate
then, we still eat now, like quinoa, corn, and potatoes. Most people
probably also dont know that the Inca ate a form of deer either.
Well, this chapter will put all those questions about what the Inca ate,
what crops they grew, techniques they had for preparing food and
farmland, and what they hunted, to rest.

DISCUSSIONS!
What are some questions you have about Inca diet, techniques,
etc? Review with your classmates.
Have you ever studied Inca foods?
Are you excited to be studying Inca foods?
Do you think food would be a large part of the Inca culture?

Inca Crops
The Incas had a wide variation to eat. They were mainly vegetarian, though.
Because of that, they needed a wide variety of crops, in order to replace the protein
and calcium lost when meats werent abundant. Therefore, the Incas became
excellent farmers.

Some of the crops they raised were:

Amaranth
Peppers
Maize, (Staple)
Yucca
Oca
Potatoes, (Staple)
Quinoa, (Staple)
Zapano

These crops were very important to the Incas vast empire. Most historians think
that the reason the Inca Empire was so large was partly thanks to their food storage
and agriculture. Based on the website incas.mrdonn.org, the Incas were the
first people to grow potatoes. It was one of the main staple crops, along with corn
(Maize), and quinoa. (Staple crops means that they are very important, and
staple their diet together.) These crops were served at almost every meal.
Without these crops, the Inca Empire would crumble to the ground, long before it
did. Some of their crops are still being served on plates today.
DISCUSSIONS!
What were some main staple crops?
Why were they called staple crops?
Have you ever eaten any Inca staple crops?

Techniques
The Incas were an intelligent ancient civilization who use techniques such
as cooking are still used in modern time. Did you know the Inca invented freeze
drying to preserve food longer.
Terrance farming was originally invented by the Incas. According to
incas.mrdonn.org terrancefarming-theinca The Inca invented Terrance
farming. They lived in the mountains, flatlands were rare. So, they built flatland
by carving giant steps of land in to the mountains. Instead of letting rain run down
the mountain side they channeled the water through the steps to irrigate more
efficiently. It was believed that the Inca domain lasted so long due to their
amazing farming ways.
Due to cold weather conditions in the Andes, freeze drying food would be
the best way for the Inca preserve their food. The Inca would stomp on the fruit
or meats to release moisture, then they would set it out on flat stones for the sun
to evaporate any excess moisture. At night the cold temperature would freeze the
food and I the morning they would stomp on it again. Freeze drying food would
make it easier to store in the store houses.
In order to keep food for winter the Inca would build warehouses for crops
and freeze dried food. The Inca would not be able to grow crops in the winter due
to the ground freezing so they would keep rations in the warehouses. During the
growing season the Incas would set aside some crops and freeze dried rations to
store in the shacks.

The Incas are

drying food in this
painting

As featured in the ruins

today here is where
some store houses were.

Meats
The typical Inca diet didnt consist of a lot of meat.
Because the Incas ate meat sparingly meat was used for large
events such as royal banquets. Most meat supply was obtained
through hunting and gathering. They ate llama, alpaca, and,
guanaco, they also ate Guinea pigs however they were known
as cuy, frogs and insects were the main source of protein for
the Incas. The Incas caught fish and aquatic birds in the
highland lakes and rivers.
The meats they ate were

Alpaca
cuy
frog
insects
fish
Guanaco
Lama
Duck
Deer

http://howtoperu.com/2011/11/11/inca-food-past-and-present/

Glossary
Vegetarian- someone who does not eat meat
Crops- Produce of a Farm
Staple- The main support
Historians- a job of tracking history

Agriculture- The growing of crops

Ancient- Old
Civilization-Group of people
Warehouses- A place for storage

Flatland- A piece of land that is flat