Page 18 - SOUTH GUANACASTE TOURIST GUIDE

Guanacaste cuisine
These foods from Guanacaste are not to be missed...
CORN TORTILLAS
Corn tortillas are a staple of many typical meals in Hispanic countries such as Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.
AYACO
This dish is a fusion of beef broth, achiote, cornmeal, panela, bacon, fried ripe plantain, milk, quititeña, lots of garlic, culantro coyote and the mandatory chicasquil leaves.
YOLES
Yoltamal is an indigenous term that means a tender corn tamale. When the corn harvest begins, the first corn is cut at the bottom to preserve its leaves, which will be used to wrap the tamale. Tender leaves fold well, or they can be soaked in hot water and dried.
ATOL DE PUJAGUA
The term “pujagua” comes from the Nahuatl word puxauac, meaning soft or spongy. In Costa Rica there are different types of purple corn, one of which is the dark purple Congo variety. The color of the pujagua, meanwhile, is closer to pink.
ARROZ DE MAÍZ
From generation to generation, the recipe for arroz de maíz, whose name means “corn rice” but does not contain rice, has managed to stay alive as a symbol of pride in the Guanacaste culture.
Coyoleada is the process of extracting the sap from the coyol palm to make coyol wine. People known as “coyoleras” are the ones who understand the traditional extraction processes, tree growth and the ideal times and seasons.
ROSQUILLAS Y TANELAS
Cracked corn, dried cheese, egg and butter: these are the ingredients needed to make the famous doughnuts known as rosquillas. Tanela is a sweet bread made from corn stuffed with a panela, syrup and cheese.
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Photos: Ministerio de Cultura
VINO DE COYOL
Where: In front of the courthouse in downtown Nicoya, Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
The Nicoa Market is open Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and opens on Sundays during the high season. Telephone: 8331-1437
Mercado Nicoa Mercado Nicoa
For more information about some of the places where you can eat these delicious dishes, click on the following links:
Coopetortillas
Fogón Típico Santacruceño Dulces Tradicionales
For further information and recipes:
Recipes of the native seeds of Guanacaste Recipes of Puntarenas and Guanacaste
Maíz Pujagua in Costa Rica
You can also enjoy these foods and beverages in popular sites like the markets of Liberia and Nicoya and in Santa Cruz at the famous Cooperativa de Mujeres.
Nicoa Market
A market where you can find traditional food from around Nicoya, with authentically Nicoyan homemade corn tortillas, bread, rosquillas and tanelas, not to mention delicious chicheme, one of our traditional drinks.
We have delicious local food and drinks for sale:
Gallina achiotada
Horchata Arroz de maíz
Chilote stew Chicheme
Picadillo de papaya