Nature's Candy

Grilled Carica with ice cream

One thing many people like to do on trips around the world is to partake in the exotic foods each country specializes in. Whether it be standalone items or a dish made up of various ingredients, eating uncommon foods is enjoyed by many people. Understandably there are a few people who are cautious in trying new things due to their looks, taste or smell which they are not used to. Fortunately, there are gourmet level foods that have characteristics which people can familiarize themselves with. Take, for instance, the gourmet fruits of Tamaya's Chilean Carica and Baby Pears. The former may sound alien to a good majority of people while the latter's name shares a similar name to the more common pear. But what exactly are these fruits? In this post we will discuss who produces these popular fruits, the origins and how the carica and baby pears are made, and lastly popular usage of these including how the vodka brand Double Cross incorporates using the baby pears with their popular vodka drink. Read on more past the break!

Just Your Cup Of Tea

One of the most consumed beverages in the world is without a doubt tea. Though it may not seem like that would be the case here in America, in other parts of the world tea is the preferred drink of choice. With the many variations of tea that can be brewed in the world, there are countless types of tea that can be experienced from many countries. Chile is one of the countries that produces their own organic tea by a company called Garden Of The Andes. We, The Gourmet Import Shop, work closely with Garden Of The Andes to help make their teas available to America as well as other countries. Come join us in this blog post as we discuss the Garden Of The Andes company and their history, the process of how their tea is made, benefits of organic tea, as well as other tidbits of information that may be of interest. Head on past the break to read on!

Garden Of The Andes field of chamomile flowers

Add Some Spice To Your Life

In the world of gourmet food, many chefs and food lovers aim to create the most tasteful dishes. What supports them in this quest for deliciousness and can make a great difference in their recipes are unique ingredients. This is especially true when an ingredient's full potential has not been fully tapped and is just waiting to explode onto the culinary scene. This is where importers (such as us, The Gourmet Import Shop) who find the best from around the world and make it readily available. One such special ingredient hails from Chile by courtesy of the company named Etnia. It is a native spice called merquén (or merkén). In this post, we explain more about Etnia, what merquén is, the Mapuche people, and what the Fair Trade concept is that Etnia practices. Read on more past the break.

Seared Salmon with Merquén Crust, Quinoa Salad