Colombian FoodColombian food is becoming increasingly diverse with time. On the one hand, there is the deeply traditional food that is so ingrained in the culture that many Colombians are not particularly interested or willing even, to change their eating habits. On the other end of the spectrum, Colombian agriculture consists of a massive diversity of local produce due to its contrasting climactic regions, that provides top notch ingredients for the booming restaurant scene. Some of the popular fruits in the region are Guanabana and Maracuya. Colombian CoffeeObviously, we can't forget Colombian coffee, known throughout its history the world as being some of the finest and especially for the Arabica Colombian coffee beans.
Especially the larger cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali and of course Cartagena, have high-end restaurants that serve international as well as modern Colombian cuisine such as empanadas. 
You can divide Colombian foods culture by regions, and rural vs. urban. That, and of course, wealth. There's no denying, Colombia has vast differences between rich and poor and it often seems as though they live in different worlds altogether. In many ways, they really do. If eating at a restaurant, I find it's best to go for traditional unless if the restaurant is of the necessary caliber to pull of good Italian, Sushi, Chinese or whatever it may be.
People from Medellin and Antioquia are passionate about their Sancocho. This stew comes in all forms but consists essentially of some form of meat, plantain, corn, yuca and other vegetables. It's usually fairly crammed with all sorts of tasty stuff. Another favorite or the region, is the
empanada,
a type of stuffed bread. Tasty as a snack or light meal! And then there is of course the local sausage known as
chorizo.
The coast relies far more on seafood and is known for its fried fish with arroz con coco (coconut rice) and selfish soups. Colombian food is often hearty but healthy. It's typically not of the processed sort so prevalent elsewhere these days and relatively "organic".
A new trend started emerging around the year 2000 and has been increasing steadily since then. Improved safety levels, increased wealth and a more cosmopolitan approach to eating, particularly in the bigger cities, is making Colombia an interesting place to dine. Personally, I think something big is happening here. Embracing traditional Colombian Recipes and giving a touch of modern, with the abundance of fresh produce and ingredients that this nation has, it looks set to become a major food destination. DessertsIn Colombia there's a wide range of products available to anyone which is the reason why there's such a rich and varied cuisine. Colombian desserts are mostly sweet and are based in sweet fruits and other products that can be found anywhere in the world, therefore making Colombian dessert recipes easy for anyone to reproduce.New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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