Colombian Cuisine

Colombian cuisine can be divided into six regions, which are given by geography. Thus, the food differs from the Pacific coast, the Andes, the Caribbean coast, the Amazon basin and the Orinoco. Colombia also includes two Caribbean islands, where the cuisine is different. The dishes of these cuisines are different because of the different ingredients that are found in each region and the ethnic groups that live there. The Pacific coast, for example, is very influenced by Afro-Colombians. Vegetarian and vegan food is easily available in Colombia. But if you end up in a village on the edge of the world, rice and beans with patacones and salad are actually always available. A menu of the day without soup (the soup usually contains meat in the menu of the day) and meat is mostly possible without problems. What remains is rice with beans and some vegetables. most of the times, one gets then Rabat. Organic products have recently become a trend in Colombia’s cities. Whereby the numerous fruits and vegetables are already fresh and natural anyway. Patacones are vegan, but they are often served with a topping. The topping can vary and is not always vegan. Arepas are regionally different. There are arepas that are filled with cheese, but most of the time you get the flatbread-like arepa that is vegan. Also here it depends on the topping whether the dish is finally vegan. Arepas can be also simply bought in the supermarket and prepared in the hostel according to one’s mood. Tamales on the other hand are often not vegan, although the corn dough would be vegan in principle, they are unfortunately filled with cheese or meat. But now and then you are lucky and get tamales filled with vegetables. Eating well and cheap is very easy in Colombia.
A traditional breakfast in Colombia consists of an arepa, egg and coffee or sugar cane juice. You can give it a try and ask for a substitute for the egg. Fruit salad or fried vegetables would be obvious. Lunch is available between 12 and 14 o’clock, dinner is available in Colombia already at 18 o’clock. Then it also gets dark.

Arepas with avocado cream and hogao.

Vegan dishes

  • Arroz con coco
  • Arepas (depending on the topping)
  • Patacones
  • Platanos Maduros Fritos
  • Street food: mango & avocado
  • Hogao
  • Ají picante
  • Bocadillo de guayaba
  • Un tinto (black coffee)
  • Salpichon (juice with soda)
  • Moras & Fresas as juice
  • Chocolate Caliente (original hot chocolate is made with water, you are usually asked if you want to make it with water or milk)
  • Aguapanela
  • Lulada (Lulo drink, can come with cream)
  • Caña (sugar cane juice)
  • Champús (corn fruit drink)

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