Know before you go: Colombians and their crazy eating habits
I absolutely love Colombia. The country is beautiful, the people are lovely and if you look carefully, you can also eat wonderfully there. But generally speaking, Colombian flavor combinations, eating traditions and habits are muy raro. Going to Colombia? Then take a look at these culinary oddities. Forewarned is forearmed.
Would you like some more salt on your fruit?
Mango is my favorite fruit, and in Colombia I picked them myself. In the paradise-like town of Sapzurro, to be precise. And holy smoke, I have never eaten such fresh mango. Sweet and juicy; you would almost forget that you are eating something healthy. However, if you ask me, Colombians know exactly how to ruin this deliciously sweet taste sensation. They lovingly sprinkle an unhealthy amount of salt over it. Do you get it?
Chocolate cheese
Hot chocolate. Whether you are 5, 15 or 35: it remains delicious. In winter I can’t get enough of it and I often swap my cappuccino for a cup of hot chocolate. I eat cheese all year round. On my sandwich, in salads, on a cheese board; never enough cheese. The thought of combining the two seems bizarre, but in Colombia it is the bittersweet reality. Thick, hot chocolate is served with a piece of cheese on the side. You are supposed to crumble it up and put it in your mug. You then eat the melting stuff with a spoon, after which you drink the cheesy hot chocolate. Ridiculous or brilliant?
Coffee made from rotten beans
Colombia is known, among other things, for its delicious coffee. It is the world’s third-largest coffee-producing country and pay close attention: Dutch supermarket shelves are packed with it. So you would think it is always delicious coffee. Unfortunately, that is not the case. All the good Colombian coffee is for export! In Colombia itself, people mainly drink waste coffee. The rotten beans collected by coffee pickers are not thrown away, but saved for Colombians themselves. If you order a tinto somewhere, there is a good chance you are drinking bad coffee. You can recognize it by its bitter taste and the sugar that is added without being asked; a brave attempt to make it somewhat palatable.
Fry, frier, friest
Do you have no interest in a grill plate, slow cooker or raw dishes, but would you rather see every product disappear into a greasy deep fryer? Then Colombia is your holy grail. They love to fry it up! Fried chicken is delicious from time to time, but the platanos (green bananas), chicharon (deep-fried pork fat), empanadas and fried fish are greasy too. I’ll be honest; often it is delicious. But after a while, your stomach really can’t handle all that frying fat anymore.
“Fresh” fruit
You will come across lots of healthy street food. In the big cities, but also in villages in the middle of nowhere, you will find many street vendors selling fresh fruit. Mangos, pineapples and watermelons: delicious, bring it on! Often, especially in the big cities, it is wise to ask them to cut a new one for you instead of buying the already-cut pieces of “fresh” fruit in containers. After hours in the blazing sun, it really isn’t tasty anymore. They know that themselves, which is why they often spray water over it with a plant mister, so that your favorite fruit still looks juicy despite being dehydrated. Don’t fall for it!
Good morning! Bowl of tripe?
In Colombia, having soup for breakfast is completely normal. And hey, why not? Um, well, this is why: sopa de mondongo is just a very scary way to start the day. Tripe soup in the morning? No, thank you—and preferably not for the rest of the day either.
Hotdog Hawaii
Can’t stand it when someone orders a Hawaiian pizza? Then you probably won’t be a fan of this Colombian combo either. The hot dog, topped with pineapple, is hugely popular in Colombia. In the cities, you will find plenty of hot dog stands and restaurants. Sometimes fresh pieces of pineapple are added, but more often it is pineapple sauce; either way, it really isn’t delicious.
Read also:
- Street food from Colombia
- Know before you go: 10 Portuguese dishes you may want to avoid
- Know before you go: 12 German dishes and drinks that sound funnier than they taste
