GASTRONOMY

It is true that Colombian gastronomy is not the best known in the world, and yet, it is a very beautiful way to discover the richness of this country, its culture, its diversity and its traditions.

The origin of Colombian cuisine

Discovering Colombian gastronomy also allows you to travel through its history, full of crossbreeding between the different cultures that have crossed these lands and the indigenous peoples originating from the country.

To talk about the origins of Colombian cuisine, we have to go back to pre-Columbian times. Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Colombian territory was inhabited by hundreds of ethnic groups with diverse gastronomic customs.

Corn was considered a “God” for indigenous people, which is why it is currently an omnipresent ingredient in Colombian gastronomy. During colonization, Colombian cuisine merged with the ingredients, practices, culinary traditions and gastronomic customs of the different populations that immigrated.

The Africans, who arrived in slavery with the Spanish colonists, brought us rice, cassava, beans, palm and coconut oil. The Spanish brought wheat, sugar cane, as well as beef, pork, lamb and chicken. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, there was a historic immigration of populations from Syria and Lebanon to the territory of the Colombian Caribbean coast, and with them, eggplants and lentils arrived in gastronomy Colombian.

TYPICAL DISHES

In Colombia, there is not just one typical dish, but rather a feast of flavors that will make you dance!

Here are some of the most popular dishes that will make you say “oh my!”

AJIACO

When we talk about Ajiaco, we talk about warmth and friendliness. It is a thick soup made from three types of potatoes, chicken, corn and a variety of aromatic herbs, which is usually served in clay bowls, accompanied by white rice and a slice lawyer.

BANDEJA PAISA

This dish was the only food that accompanied the mule driver. The main characteristic of "La Bandeja paisa" is abundance. Imagine a giant plate filled with rice, red beans, avocado, plantain, chicharrón (pork belly), ground beef, blood sausage, chorizo and of course, a fried egg.

TAMALES

The tamal is a preparation of pre-Columbian origin, from Mesoamerican cultures, generally prepared with corn or rice dough filled with meats and vegetables (peas, carrots), which are wrapped in vegetable leaves, like l corn cob or banana.

PESCADO FRITO

The Colombian coast is famous for its seafood dishes. Having two oceans offers an unrivaled wealth of fish and seafood. This typical dish consists of fried fish served with coconut milk rice. It is a culinary delight influenced by Caribbean and African traditions.