The Shrimps: Ecuador’s rose gold!

Do you like shrimps? I bet you do. But did you know that Ecuador is the main producer of these little creatures in Latin America? This country, small in Latin America, is yet one of the 5 main shrimp exporting countries along with India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand in the world.

Let’s discover together the production process and what makes Ecuador one of the best gastronomic country destinations of the world based on this shellfish: the ceviche dish.

The vannamei shrimp

Feel like enjoying some “camarón”? You’d better, because vannamei (white-legged) shrimps are highly renowned for their fine, fragrant flavor and their crisp, firm flesh.

They are produced between the city of Guayaquil and the Pacific coast. It is in this very region that the producers carry out the entire breeding process.

The breeding of these crustaceans is divided in three stages:

• First, when the shrimps are still larvae, they are placed in hatcheries. They are fed with algae necessary for their growth.
• Then, they are sent to the nurseries for about 3 weeks. The goal is to get them used to the conditions and salinity of the grow-out ponds.
• Finally, they are sent to the grow-out tanks for 3 to 6 months. In this phase, the farmers feed the shrimps to reach the desired size.

Ceviches, a must and typical dish in Ecuador

Ceviche is a typical dish of South America. Especially in Ecuador but also in Peru.

This dish consists mainly of raw seafood marinated in lemon juice and is often accompanied by tomatoes, chopped onions and spices.

However, each country personalizes this dish as it pleases. In Ecuador, for example, the ceviche of “camarón” – what a surprise! – is the most common. Usually Ecuadorian ceviche is usually accompanied by plantain banana chips (chifles), unsweetened popcorn (the canguil) or toasted corn (the tostado).

Feel like enjoying Ecuadorian shrimps along with a good ceviche with friends or family? Contact our agents now for a tailor-made trip to discover the (delicious and marvelous) treasures of Ecuador!