The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is not from Guinea and it is not a pig. A small Andean rodent related to the rabbit, it is known as Cuy in Peru - after its kew,kew sound. Guinea Pig consumption is a cultural tradition in Peru, as many Peruvians believe that guinea pig meat is not only delicious but also has medicinal properties. In the Inca time, the nobility used to enjoy it and Inca priests used it to predict the future or as a sacrifice. Peru consumes some 65 million guinea pig dishes annually.
