Pinolillo is a sweet

cornmeal Cornmeal is a meal (coarse flour) or a cell membrane ground from dried corn. It is a common staple food, and is ground to coarse, medium, and fine consistencies, but not as fine as wheat flour can be.Herbst, Sharon, ''Food Lover's Companion'', ...

and cacao-based traditional drink in

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the coun ...

, also consumed in Costa Rica. It is made of ground toasted corn and a small amount of cacao. It can be mixed with water or soy milk, and served sweetened or unsweetened. If unsweetened, it is rather bitter. The drink usually has a rough, gritty texture. It is traditionally served out of a gourd made of the shell of the jicaro fruit. Decorative gourds are also made for purchase by tourists as souvenirs; such decorations are rarely found in the homes of native Nicaraguans.

Pinol and Nicaraguan culture

Consumption of pinolillo is so widespread and traditional that the substance has become one of many symbols of Nicaraguan culture. Nicaraguans often refer to themselves as "Pinoleras" and "Pinoleros", either jokingly or with pride. The patriotic phrase ''"'"'' (''I'm a pure Pinolero, Nicaraguan by the grace of God!'') has been frequently used by Nicaraguans. The phrase comes from the patriotic song ''Nicaragua Mía'' by Tino López Guerra, which has been covered several times. The popular saying is often used by the Nicaraguan president, in his speeches.Bolpress:: "Queremos trabajo, queremos paz, queremos reconciliación"
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References

Chocolate drinks Nicaraguan cuisine Costa Rican cuisine Mesoamerican cuisine Maize-based drinks {{nonalcoholic-drink-stub

Pinol and Nicaraguan culture

See also

References