They can be found mostly in rural zones of Chile like Provincia de Cautín, IX Región de la Araucanía.

Mapuche families believe that healthy food (KUME IYAL) is vital because of its regenerative and energetic qualities (YAFUN) in order to be strong enough to work hard at countriside.

Food is related to health and beauty. Mapuches believe that to be fat is to be healthy and pretty.

In order to achieve heatth, Mapuches are picky eaters. They only eat what they call True Food. That is pure Mapuche's food. They eat it to be full (APOIPUTRA WEDALEN). The food is gotten from Motherland (MAPU) through hard work. They prefer solid dishes (PISKU) than liquid ones (KORU) due to their high energetic value.

Nowadays, they prefer boiled food (AFUNIYAL) than rare (KARUIYAL).

Bread (KOFKE) is a must in every home, to not have any is sign of poverty.

Cultural meals have social meaning too. Sometimes, Mapuches try to get closer or get a long with somebody by having these meals. And, it's common to show kindness to non-mapuche people (WINKAS) in this way. By invinting them, for example, to drink Mate (MATETUEIMI) they show aceptation.

One way to get closer to other people is drinking wine (PULKO) and apple's chicha (MUDAI) which is also used in magigal-religious rituals.

Mapuches believe that some food have protective properties. One of them is cochayuyo (KOLOF). While in a bottle, it keeps frost off the cultivated fields. And sugar protects them from black magic.

There are some food that have magical properties that is used in religious and magical rituals (MACHIS). And there are some food that cannot be eated at certain time for either cultural or religious beliefs.

For instante, salt should not be present at religious rituals. Animal fat and viceras should not be eaten because they can carry black magic spells on.