Typical Costa Rican Food

Zander Bunner
Public Relations Major
Veritas University, Costa Rica
Spring Semester 2017

After finally deciding on Costa Rica to be the country I would study in, I began to think of what I might expect as I was there. One thing I was excitedly awaiting was tons of fresh tropical fruit that is grown in the area thanks to the tropical climate. Let me tell you, I was not let down.

Breakfast every day for me consists of a mixed bowl of fresh fruit, ranging between a mix of pineapple, mangoes, apples, melon, honeydew, papaya or oranges. Breakfast always includes coffee, as coffee is an important point of pride when it comes to Costa Rican culture. Costa Rica is very well known for both the delicious fruit that is grown here as well as coffee, the high elevation outside of San José and warm, dry climate provides perfect growing conditions for coffee plantations. Costa Rican culture also finds pride in how much rice and black beans they eat, I find myself eating this alongside many of my dinners with my host family and roommates.

This is a Granadilla, it's small and orange. You don’t eat the rind but you break it open to find these seeds. Very strange consistency, but delicious! — This is a Granadilla, it’s small and orange. You don’t eat the rind but you break it open to find these seeds. Very strange consistency, but delicious!

The food here has been so different than what I’m used to in the States, but I’ve grown to love it. Every night I go home, I have no idea what could be waiting for dinner, but I’ve loved everything that my host mother has prepared, and I’ve been here for just shy of a month.

Recently I went on a field trip to a local fruit and vegetable market in Cartago, Costa Rica. It was one of the most mesmerizing things I’ve experienced here and I have never been in a place quite like it. Lots of local farmers have stands full of their produce and I tried some really different and strange foods there.