{"id":16912,"date":"2024-12-06T20:59:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T18:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/?p=16912"},"modified":"2024-12-23T17:37:04","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T15:37:04","slug":"the-secret-of-the-mapuche-merken-voted-the-worlds-best-spice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/the-secret-of-the-mapuche-merken-voted-the-worlds-best-spice\/","title":{"rendered":"The secret of the Mapuche: Merk\u00e9n &#8211; voted the world&#8217;s best spice"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Merken-best-spice-700x350.jpg\" alt=\"Merken Best Spice\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Merken-best-spice-700x350.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Merken-best-spice-620x310.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chile, a country full of scenic contrasts and cultural diversity, also reflects these influences in its cuisine. A symbol of Chile&#8217;s cultural depth and culinary richness is <strong>merk\u00e9n, the traditional Mapuche spice<\/strong>. This unique chili powder with its smoky aroma was recognized as the best spice in the world in December 2024 by the renowned gastronomy portal Taste Atlas &#8211; proof of its unparalleled flavor and cultural significance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ruca-Mapuche-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ruca Mapuche\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-16918\" \/>Merk\u00e9n is more than just a spice &#8211; it is a <strong>culinary journey into Chile&#8217;s past<\/strong>. Originally crafted by the Mapuche, this traditional blend combines dried, ground, and smoked &#8220;Cacho de Cabra&#8221; chili peppers with roasted coriander seeds and sea salt. Its unique preparation gives Merk\u00e9n its characteristic spiciness, complemented by earthy and smoky undertones, transforming any dish into a flavorful experience. Celebrated worldwide, merk\u00e9n embodies tradition, passion, and the distinctive tastes of Chile.<\/p>\n<p>The chilies used for merk\u00e9n are primarily cultivated in the Araucan\u00eda region. Harvested in February, they reach their peak ripeness as the pods transition from green to vibrant red.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Meal-Mapuche.png\" alt=\"Meal Mapuche\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-16919\" \/><br \/>\nIf you&#8217;re not only looking to savor dishes with merk\u00e9n but also want to explore the origins of this spice, travelArt offers the perfect opportunity. We provide<strong> tours to the Rutas Ancestrales<\/strong> or <strong>visits to a Mapuche family <\/strong>in the Chilean Lake District. Here, travelers can immerse themselves in Mapuche culture, experiencing the hospitality and culinary traditions of the locals\u2014an authentic journey into the heart of Chile.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Woman-Mapuche.png\" alt=\"Woman Mapuche\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-16920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Woman-Mapuche.png 250w, https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Woman-Mapuche-70x70.png 70w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/>Immerse yourself in the rich culture and flavors of this captivating country, and experience Chile with all your senses.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about tours that explore Mapuche culture, please contact your travelArt representative or email <a href=\"m&#97;&#x69;&#x6c;t&#111;&#x3a;&#x69;n&#102;&#x6f;&#x40;tr&#x61;&#x76;el&#x61;&#x72;t.&#99;&#x6f;&#x6d;\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#x69;&#x6e;&#x66;&#x6f;&#64;&#116;ravel&#x61;&#x72;&#x74;&#x2e;&#x63;&#111;m<\/a>.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chile, a country full of scenic contrasts and cultural diversity, also reflects these influences in its cuisine. A symbol of Chile&#8217;s cultural depth and culinary richness is merk\u00e9n, the traditional Mapuche spice. This unique chili powder with its smoky aroma &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"[:de]Das Geheimnis der Mapuche: Merk\u00e9n \u2013 zum weltbesten Gew\u00fcrz gek\u00fcrt[:en]The secret of the Mapuche: Merk\u00e9n - voted the world's best spice[:] - travelArt","description":"[:de] Chile, ein Land voller landschaftlicher Kontraste und kultureller Vielfalt, spiegelt diese Einfl\u00fcsse auch in seiner K\u00fcche wider. Ein Symbol f\u00fcr Chiles kul"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16912"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16938,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16912\/revisions\/16938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chile-reise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}