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Food & Drink
Experiences for Travellers
Some may see food as just an essential to everyday survival, but it is much more than that! And with travel, it is one of the best ways to experience a new culture. Learning to eat with your hands in India (only the right one!), taking at least an hour attempting to pick up rice with chopsticks in Japan, or splashing sauce everywhere whilst trying to twirl your spaghetti on a spoon in Italy. It’s all part of the experience! We love seeking out those authentic restaurants, home cooked meals and street food we’ll remember for a lifetime. And what better way to share our experiences than with recipes and recommendations that we’ve collected from around the world. Bon appetit!
Tours which passengers can experience authentic cooking classes
Things you never knew about food
What is the most stolen food in the world?
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Cheese
Around 4% of all the ...... made in the world gets stolen. There's even a black market of stolen ......., but we didn't tell you that.
Things you never knew about food
What country drinks the most coffee?
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Netherlands
People in ........... take their daily caffeine fix seriously: At 2.414 cups per day per capita, they’re the number one coffee consumers in the world. Finland and Sweden are the second biggest coffee fanatics, at 1.848 and 1.357 cups per day. Surprisingly, the United States doesn’t even make the top 10 when it comes to daily coffee consumption. At just 0.931 cups per day (according to a 2014 report), the United States is only the 16th biggest coffee drinking nation in the world (right after New Zealand).
Things you never knew about food
What common pet is a traditional a delicacy in Peru?
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Guinea Pig
Cuy is the ...... ... : it’s usually fried until crispy and you’ll see it in most mercados and on traditional menus throughout Peru. But it really looks like a ...... ... . And ...... ... are adorable.
Top 3 places for vegans
India
Indian cuisine is known for having some of the most tantalizing and unique flavours in the world. While India is known as having more vegetarians than any other country, most are Lacto which means they do consume dairy. This being said, India is still one of the best places for finding amazing vegan food. Coconut curries, roti, tofu, samosas, lentils, the list goes on!
Top food to try
Vegetable Biryani. Just ask for the butter to be replaced with vegetable oil.
Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine uses plenty of rice, vegetables, fresh herbs and spices. Many dishes are automatically vegan and most can be veganized! Pho is without a doubt one of the most popular dishes to come out of the country and can easily be made vegan, just swap the meat stock for vegetable stock. The country is fast developing and most cities in Vietnam also have vegan only restaurants offering up local delicacies, these are not to be missed!
Top food to try
Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese Spring Rolls) Just make sure to have the peanut sauce and no fish sauce!
Israel
Did you know Tel Aviv is in fact the world’s vegan capital? Israel is fast becoming a mecca for vegan travellers as locals are embracing the plant based lifestyle. The cuisine is rich in flavour and brings together simple, healthy ingredients to create mouth watering dishes. From falafel and baba ganoush to the simple yet satisfying hummus and pita, the stunning middle eastern flavours will leave you satisfied and wanting more.
Top food to try
Sabich. A pitta filled with salad, fried eggplant, potatoes, parsley and tahini. Comes with a boiled egg so just ask for it to be left out.
Top 3 places for veggies
Thailand
Travellers flock to Thailand for two reasons; the beaches and the food. Bringing together centuries of tradition and mouth watering ingredients, Thai food is a favourite amongst many. Vegetarians will find a whole host of dishes on offer, from tofu curries to egg fried rice. Chiang Mai’s food scene is not to be missed, where you can even take part in cooking classes to learn the secrets behind the cuisine.
Top food to try
Som Tum (Green papaya salad) Just ask to omit the fish sauce!.
Poland
It may come as a surprise that Poland is an excellent destination for vegetarians. Warsaw and Krakow both have a fantastic selection of both vegetarian friendly and vegan only restaurants, as well as the various goodies to be found at street-food markets. Pierogis - the most popular food in Poland - offer various vegetarian fillings such as potato, cheese and onion.
Top food to try
Potato Pancakes. They are commonly served with sour cream and chives.
Mexico
Mexico is known for having some truly incredible dishes. While you can always rely on rice and beans to get by you definitely won’t need to when travelling to Mexico. Tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, papadzules, they can all easily omit the meat and make a truly delicious vegetarian dish. Oaxaca is known as a foodies heaven and the perfect place to taste your way around the city, Mexico style.
Top food to try
Elotes. Grilled corn on the cob topped with mayonnaise, crumbled cheese, lime juice and chili powder.
Great tours for wine lovers
Bolivia, Chile & Argentina
Duration:14 Days
Route:La Paz to Buenos Aires
Tour Code:HBA
Top 8 drinks to experience when travelling the world
Pisco Sours, Peru
Pisco sour is the national drink of Peru! This cocktail is made from Pisco liquor along with lime juice, sugar and egg white. It is a beloved part of Peruvian culture and even has its own day - the first Saturday in February! When in Peru why not visit the region of Pisco where you can learn about the production process of the famous Pisco Sour.
Sangria, Spain
For many, no holiday to Spain would be complete without sipping sangrias down by the pool. It is a punch consisting of red wine and fruit, sometimes mixed with lemonade or orange juice. Traditionally the wine is from Rioja but in some regions you can get sangria blanca - made with sparkling cava.
Caiprinha, Brazil
Rio Carnival wouldn’t be complete without a few glasses of caipirinhas. Cachaça is the alcohol base, similar to rum. The Caiprinha cocktail is mixed with sugar and lime and is served throughout bars and restaurants in Brazil.
Singapore Sling, Singapore
Head to the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore for gin-based cocktail, the Singapore Sling. Made from gin, cherry liqueur, cointreau and grenadine it is a sweet drink, which was created by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles Hotel sometime before 1915.
Mojito, Cuba
Although found around the world, the mojito cocktail was born in Havana, Cuba. Made from white rum, sugar, lime, soda water and mint, it is a drink often associated with balmy summer nights. Famous author Ernest Hemingway is said to have favoured the mojito as his choice of drink and it is still one of the most popular cocktails across Europe.
Sake, Japan
The national drink of Japan, sake is made from fermented rice. Although it can taste quite strong, the alcohol content is similar to wine - usually around 14-16%. Depending on the type of sake, it can be served chilled or warmed up, traditionally brought to the table in ceramic glasses. It is then decanted into small glasses known as o-choco.
Raki, Turkey
Known as ‘Lion’s Milk’, Raki is the national drink of Turkey, made from distilled grapes. It has a flavour of aniseed, similar to sambuca or ouzo and is usually served alongside meze-style meals, particularly seafood. It often accompanies major events like birthdays and celebrations and is diluted with water which gives it the creamy-like appearance.
Tequila, Mexico
Before it ends up in night clubs across the globe, tequila is made from the blue agave plant surrounding the city of Tequila in Mexico. It is commonly served straight, sometimes with salt and lime accompanying it in shot format. Tequila that is often found in clubs is usually a lower-grade, mixed with sugars other than agave. High quality tequila which has been left to age and is 100% agave should be savoured and sipped.
Tasty Food Blogs
The must try drink and food in Peru
When you think of the food in Peru, what cuisine do you associate with it? Heavy on the meats and veg? Or does it perhaps resemble Mexican cuisine? After visiting Lima which is known as the culinary capital of South America, we shortlisted some of our favourite and most fascinating drinks, ingredients and dishes we recommend trying for yourself when visiting this Andean treasure of a country.
Top 7 dishes to eat in Japan
The world is a treasure trove of natural beauty, unique history and ultimate adventure. Whether you are watching the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, cruising past elephants in the Okavango Delta or marvelling at the breathtaking northern lights, an amazing travel experience will stay with you for years to come, if not your lifetime! In celebration of Tucan Travel turning 32 years old we have compiled a list of the 32 top travel experiences we believe everyone should have in their lifetime.