If you had to guess which country on earth eats the most meat per capita, you’d probably guess the United States, right?
Well, you would be right! But did you know that the small South American country of Uruguay comes in at #4 on the list? This place, located on the Atlantic coast of the Southern Cone of South America, is one of the most meat-crazed countries on Earth.
When Spanish settlers came to what is now Uruguay in the early 17th century, they soon realized that the rolling meadows and plains of the territory were perfect for raising cattle. Naturally, they started to raise cows there and quickly began to consume the local meat.
In fact, even today, there are four times more cows than people inside the country!
From that point on, Uruguay has become absolutely wild about meat. In fact, a crucial part of the country’s social life is the organization of barbecues, known as “asados,” in which Uruguayans prepare a large variety of meats, from beef to sausage to lamb, preparing all of the different meats over a large open fire.
Uruguayans are fiercely proud about their meat products, and now export a large quantity of them abroad.
If you ever find yourself in Uruguay, be sure to seek out the opportunity to enjoy a traditional meat-based meal.
