Interesting Foods & Drinks: Adventurous Eating in Costa Rica

One of the things people love about travel is trying new things. 

Many travelers have harped on haggis in the Highlands, scarfed down fish head curry in Singapore or pigged out on pork knuckle in Prague. But what about Costa Rica? 

Here are some interesting, unique and adventurous foods to seek out and (hopefully) savor on your vacation in Costa Rica.

Chan

Chan is a beverage that consists of a fruit juice plus chia seeds. We’ve been warned that this drink is a bit of an acquired taste. To help you get past the floating seeds and “gummy” flavor, just remember that this drink is healthy! It’s chock full of antioxidants, protein and vitamins. With the recent popularity of boba tea in the U.S., floating blobs in your beverage may not be so strange after all.

Salchipapa

If you’re well versed in the Spanish language you may have noticed this word sounds like a combo of Salchicha (sausage) and Papa (potato). And that’s exactly what it is. In English you could basically describe it as hot dogs on top of french fries. In fact, you might be thinking, “Hey, this is one of my kids’ favorite food combos.” It’s said to have originated in Peru, but has become quite popular with the youngsters of Costa Rica, too. Never underestimate the draw of meat and potatoes.

Miel de Chiverre

This one’s for all the veggie lovers with a sweet tooth. What you’ll need: a ‘chiverre’ squash, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon zest. Oh, and just under two hours to pull this all together. A popular brand of sugar in Costa Rica, Dona Maria, shares the recipe here. The recipe can be enjoyed alone, or as locals suggest — in an empanada. 

Cheese & Bananas

Cheese goes with so many things… but bananas? Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. Que Rica Vida shares this recipe of baked plantains with butter and cheese.

It’s a super simple recipe and they claim “the combination of the sweet plantain with the salty cheese is truly irresistible.” You be the judge!

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Caldosas

Another strange combo courtesy of the younger generation is known as Caldosas. There is even a website and Facebook page completely devoted to this kooky combo. The chip brand Picaritas has really cashed in on the concoction of traditional Ceviche plus BBQ flavored corn chips.

There is no shortage of ceviche at the beaches around our stunning vacation villas. Just grab a bag of BBQ Picaritas at a local market, dump your fresh ceviche on top, shake it up a bit and dig in.

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Toad Water

Okay this isn’t really toad water, and it has nothing to do with toads, in fact. But, if you hear of Agua de Sapo while visiting the beautiful paradise we call home, we do suggest you try it. It’s often described as similar to Iced Tea, with a ginger flavor and sweetness to it. 

While it’s mostly enjoyed on the Caribbean coast, a lot of new and interesting dishes have made their way to our Pacific side. You don’t need to venture across the country to enjoy these creative flavors. We even have a restaurant in Dominical, Rasssflavorrr, devoted to the traditional foods of the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica.

Burning Water

If you weren’t up for tasting Toad Water, how about Burning Water? This clear liquor called Guaro (pronounced wahr-oh) is now the national alcoholic drink of Costa Rica. Undoubtedly, the non-alcoholic national drink is coffee.

At one time, though, Guaro was made illegally in kitchens around the country. Drinking it straight isn’t too appealing for many, but you can whip up a cocktail at your villa’s outdoor kitchen. Sip it at sunset and let us know what you think in the comments. Here’s the recipe for a Guaro Sour, courtesy of Cacique brand Guaro.

McDonald’s

It’s not so unusual to find a McDonald’s when traveling. In fact, according to McDonald’s website, they’re serving up fast food in 118 different countries. But… we doubt you’ll find the McPinto Deluxe outside of Costa Rica. What should you wash that down with, you ask? A Maracuya McShake. Duh. Did you come to Costa Rica to eat McDonald’s? You might have!

Other Interesting Variations

There’s no shortage of interesting variations people create for seemingly standard foods in Costa Rica. We’ve heard of restaurants adding ginger-ale to ceviche, putting a slice of ham on a hamburger, and even serving up omelets, deep-fried. If you are adventurous enough to sample these suggestions, or you found an interesting food we didn’t mention, leave us a note in the comments below.

¡Provecho! Enjoy your meal!