What do Uruguayans eat?

I knew Uruguayans loved their Scotch* but even the Guru’Guay was taken by surprise to find Johnnie Walker Black Label on the list of ‘essential items’ for holiday makers in Punta del Este this high season.

Finally fed up with price hiking at supermarkets in coastal towns, the Uruguayan and provincial governments struck a deal. They have named 192 items as part of a “tourist shopping basket” (canasta turística). Big supermarkets have pledged to keep prices on par with prices in the capital from February 1 2019 fixed till the end of the season.

Uruguay makes almost 8% of its national income from tourism and employs 100,000 people. Locals are also affected by disproportionately high prices so this is definitely a good initiative.

Intrigued to know what makes a super Uruguayan vacation?

The “tourist shopping basket” items selected by the Uruguayan Ministry of Tourism include pasta, pasta and more pasta (referred to as fideos). As well as other basics like milk, cheese and yogurt. Plus treats like icecream, dulce de leche and Chandon champagne. Alrighteeee.

In general it make sense to shop at smaller family-run businesses which keep prices steadier regardless of the time of year.

Uruguay’s tourist shopping basket

• SUGAR AZUCARLITO – BL 1 KG
• BELLA UNION WHITE SUGAR – PQ 1 KG
• COFFEE EL CHANA – BL 500 GR.
• COFFEE BRACAFE NESCAFE STICKS X 14 UNITS
• VASCOLET CHOCOLATE MILK – BL 200 GR.
• TEA HORNIMANS 10 ENVELOPES – CJ .02 KG
• YERBA MATE CANARIAS – PQ 1 KG
• PEACH JAM FCO 390 G
• DULCE DE LECHE CONAPROLE – FCO. 925 GR.
• CONAPROLE DULCE DE LECHE – FC .970 GR.
• CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS GAROTO 100 GR.
• VANILLA VANILLA ROYAL 8 PORTIONS –
• ROYAL CHOCOLATE DESSERT 8 ??SERVINGS
• DESSERT CARAMELO ROYAL 8 PORTIONS –
• FLAN ROYAL 8 PORTIONS
• BREAD MAGNO LACTAL 390G
• BOX OF ALFAJORES PUNTA DEL ESTE PORTEZUELO 12 UNIDADES
• COOKIES DIVERSION ARCOR 400 GR.
• WAFERS FILLED CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY LULU 140 GR.
• SODA CRACKER FAMOSA 420G
• RICE PATNA BLUE PATNA – BL 1 KG
• SUNFLOWER OIL – BT .900CC
• OLIVE OIL EXTRA VIRGEN SIBARITA 500CC
• MAYONAISE HELLMANNS DP 500CC
• KETCHUP HEINZ SAUCE 620G
• FIDEO ADRIA FETTUCCINE 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA NIDO 2 – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA VERMICHELLI – 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA NIDO 1 – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA FORATTI – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA MOHAS – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA MO ¥ A GIRL – PQ 500G
• ADRIA TIRABUZON FIDEO – PQ 500G
• ADRIA MACARRONES FIDEO – PQ 500G
• ADRIA CARACOLES – PQ 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA MOSTACHOLES – PQ500G
• FIDEO ADRIA RIZZETO – PQ .500G
• TRIPOLINO ADRIA EGG FIDEO – PQ 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA ¥ OQUIS – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA ESTRELLITAS – 500G
• ADRIA LETRITAS FIDEO – PQ 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA DEDALES – PQ .500G
• FIDEO ADRIA RINGS – PQ .500G
• ADRIA AVE MARIA FIDEO – PQ 500G
• ADRIA PAMPERITOS FIDEO – PQ 500G
• FIDEO ADRIA NIDO CABELLO -PQ 500G
• FUSILLI DIVELLA 0.500KG FIDEOS
• SPAGHETTI RISTORANTE 8 DIVELLA 500G
• PENNE ZITI RIGATE DIVELLA 500G
• FLOUR CAÑUELAS – PQ 1 KG
• RIO DE LA PLATA ITALIAN FLOUR 400G
• CHOCOLATE GRAIN RIO DE LA PLATA LA 300G
• TOMATO PULP WITHOUT SALT -CJ 1.030KG
• TOMATO PULP – CJ 1.03 KG
• SOAP ASTRAL CREAM X 3 3X125g
• ANN BOW NEUTRAL GLYCERINE SOAP 120 g
• SHAMPOO SEDAL, SMOOTH PERFECT, 190 CC
• SEDAL CONDITIONER, DEFINED CURLS, 190 CC
• SEDAL CONDITIONER, PERFECT SMOOTH, 190 CC
• LAUNDRY DETERGENT DRIVE MATIC FRAG.MAGICAS
• SOFTENER CONEJO CARICIAS DOY PACK
• LIQUID DETERGENT LIQUID PROTERGENTE LIMON 1 LT
• COLGATE HERBAL WHITENER 90 GRS.
• TOILET PAPER ELITE DOUBLE LEAF 30 MTS.
• KITCHEN ROLL ELITE MULTIUSE X 2
• FLY SPRAY RAID MMM Y ZANCUDOS S / O
• WHISKY JOHNNIE W BLACK – BT
• WHISKY VAT 69 BT 1 LT
• RED WINE TABLE SANTA TERESA NAC
• ROSE WINE MESA SANTA TERESA NA
• WHITE WINE MESA SANTA TERESA NA
• CHAMPAGNE BRUT CHANDON BT, 75 LT
• PEPSI BT 1.25 LT
• COCA COLA 2 lts
• ORANGE JUICE CONAPROLE C / PULPA 1LT
• PEACH JUICE CONAPROLE 1lt
• APPLE AND ORANGE JUICE CONAPROLE 1LT
• MINERAL WATER 2,250 LT
• PILSEN BEER – BT 0.96 LT + PACKAGING
• EGGS PRODHIN – CJ 6 UN
• YOGURTS

* Though consumption has fallen in recent years, in 2013, Uruguay was the world’s top consumer of whiskey.