World Foods and Etiquette

History

Argentina, like many other South American cultures, has culture influenced by Spain because of colonization. Because Argentina was so important to the Spanish as much of their gold and silver was mined there, cattle was introduced and has been a huge part of Argentine culture ever since. Argentina used to be very ahead of the times. However, after political and economic issues, Argentina is just starting to become a world power. Argentina has a rich history, and is one of the only South American cultures that is more European than it is Latin-American.

 

Food and Culture

Argentina is the largest consumer of red meat, beef, in the world. When the Spanish brought cows to Argentina, the food spread throughout the entire country and became one of the most major parts of their overall culture. It is somewhat hard to find an Argentinian recipe without beef. Another very large part of their culture is honey, as they are the largest producer of it in the world. Again, it is fairly hard to find an Argentinian dessert without honey. Along with beef and honey, Argentina is also a religious country, and most of the people of the country celebrate carnival. During lent, the country eats a lot more fish, as they can’t eat beef. Parallel to lent and carnival, social structures are also a big part of their culture. Richer, higher class citizens eat differently than poorer, lower class people.

 

Etiquette

As mentioned above, Argentina is fairly European. As a result, much of their etiquette follows Western customs. When meeting someone, a simple handshake is appropriate. When talking with people, having eye-contact shows that you’re engaged. Having good body language in general gives the impression that you are a genuine person. When going to events and functions, it is normal to arrive a half-hour to an hour later than the invitation reads. If you are going to a party where you don’t know people, have the host or hostess introduce you.

 

Geography and Agriculture

Argentina is located on the southern cone of South America, so most of the country has mild temperatures. There are the extremes, such as the far North and far South, as well as the Andes located along Argentina’s Western border. Because of Argentina’s mild climate, crops such as corn, soy and wheat are grown. Moreover, a larger part of Argentina’s exports are processed products, such as flour and animal feed. Because of how much cattle Argentina raises, a large part of the country’s land is devoted to cattle farming. These are all big things that go into Argentina’s food.