Inca Food Storage Items

The incas freeze dried potatoes to make a long lasting food known as chuño.

Inca food storage items. A porridge made from quinoa was a staple food and near the coasts fish was eaten typically in stews. At least 2 000 warehouses called quolqa or qullqa in quechua quollqa were scattered throughout the inca empire. Fish was often preserved through drying providing another durable source of food for inca armies on the move. This made an excellent backup food source in case of drought natural disaster or any other type of crop failure.

People living near the coast based their diet on fresh seafood and fruits and in the andes on potatoes and corn. A qullqa quechua pronunciation. Some of the items listed were coca leaves dried fruits dried duck jerky fish partridges and more. The incas had an advanced system of food preservation and storage.

Food consumed by the inhabitants of the inca empire varied depending on where in the vast territory they lived. More common was freeze dried meat ch arki which was a popular food when travelling. Inhabitants of the coast gathered limpets mussels and seaweed for use in stews. Using small reed boats inca fishermen hoped to catch anchovies sardines tuna salmon sea bass and shellfish.

Quinoa grown primarily for its seeds quinoa was seen as a sacred plant by the incas. To a prodigious unprecedented in the annals of world prehistory the incas stored food and other commodities which could be distributed to their armies officials conscripted laborers and in times of need to the populace. The food was also used to feed nearby communities in times of need. The vast majority of the inca population lived along the andes where in many places food could not be grown due to the rugged terrain and freezing temperatures.

Second chuño like all freeze dried food is extremely durable and can keep for years without being refrigerated. Colca collca qolca qollca was a storage building found along roads and near the cities and political centers of the inca empire. The state storage system maintained stored food sufficient to last 3 to 7 years. Also noted were non food items like clothing ceramics textile blankets sandals carbonized wood for making fires weapons etc.

Potatoes the incas grew over 200 varieties of potato a food unknown outside south america until the arrival of the spanish.