Costa Rican Tamales – A Heartwarming Christmas Tradition 

Every December, families and friends throughout the beautiful country of Costa Rica will gather together to make and enjoy fresh tamales. 

Even though the ingredients of a tamale seem simple, the recipes are actually quite time-intensive. According to the University of Costa Rica, 91% of the local population enjoys tamales during the holiday season. More than 60% of households continue the tradition of cooking them together.

Because making tamales can be so time consuming, it’s typically done as a family, in an assembly-line manner. It’s a great way to bring everyone together during the holidays for some quality family time. It’s also the best way to pass down a family recipe to younger generations. 

There are no shortage of reasons to vacation in Costa Rica during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The weather in Costa Rica in December and January is ideal, and Costa Rica is a perfect location for a family vacation. And, of course, you’ll get to experience the wonderful Christmas-time tradition of Costa Rica’s Tamales.

Making Costa Rican Tamales

Many countries enjoy the tradition of making tamales, but in Costa Rica there are a few notable differences to the process. The biggest one begins with the banana leaf.

If you’ve ever traveled to this enchanting piece of paradise in the southern zone of Costa Rica, there’s no doubt you’ve spotted a banana plant. They line the Costanera as you drive south toward Dominical. They sprout all around the lush gardens of our luxury vacation rentals. You may have thought it was a tree, as the stem looks similar to a trunk and they can grow quite tall, but these plants are actually herbaceous perennials. 

When making tamales in Costa Rica, the locals start by collecting these banana leaves that sprout from the top of the banana plant. The leaves will be used to wrap up the gift of a delicious tamale. (Just as you discard the wrapping paper surrounding your Christmas gift, don’t forget to discard the banana leaf before consuming a tamale). Tamales in many other countries are wrapped in corn husks, but the resourceful Ticos have banana plants a-plenty and know how to use what nature has provided them. 

Because tamales have been made since pre-Columbian times, there’s no shortage of Costa Rican tamale recipes to try. In fact, a quick Google search will show that the variations of ways you can make your tamale lie in the hundreds! 

Tamale Recipes

“The production of tamales has been recorded in America since pre-Columbian times, and more than 500 methods of preparation are known, including the wrapping technique. Of Mesoamerican influence, the name is a Nahuatl word tamalli, which means ‘wrapped food.'” 

M.Sc. Patricia Sedó Masís, an academic at the UCR School of Nutrition and researcher of traditional Costa Rican cuisine

The majority of recipes continue to include a corn dough base, achiote and sweet chili, all traditional ingredients from pre-Hispanic times. But newer recipes can include rice, chickpeas, green beans, carrots, potatoes, pork, beef or chicken. Even ingredients that you might not expect like pickles, plums or raisins can sweeten the package. You can also find vegetarian and vegan recipes as well. 

Most cooks will bundle two tamales together and tie them with twine. In Spanish this is called a “Piña de tamales.” You can find them for sale like this in markets and grocery stores throughout the area.  

The Gift of Tamales in Costa Rica 

More than 80% of Ticos surveyed reported giving homemade tamales as gifts. My family has been blessed to be on the receiving end of these delicious, traditional food gifts every Christmas. If you are lucky enough to receive this heartfelt gift, it will surely warm your soul and please your taste buds. Ticos are lovely people with one of the most thoughtful cultures around.

To celebrate the giving season in the land of Pura Vida is an experience you’ll never forget!