Colombian cuisine is a culinary tradition of six main regions within

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

: Insular, Caribbean, Pacific, Andean, Orinoco, and Amazonian. Colombian cuisine varies regionally and is influenced by Indigenous Colombian,

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

, and African cuisines, with a slight

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

influence in some regions.

History of Colombian food

Colombian food is a unique blend of indigenous, European traditions, and Afro-Caribbean influences. The two largest indigenous groups prior to European conquest were the

Tairona Tairona or Tayrona was a Pre-Columbian cultures of Colombia, Pre-Columbian culture of Colombia, which consisted in a group of chiefdoms in the region of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in present-day Cesar Department, Cesar, Magdalena Department, Mag ...

, who lived along the Caribbean coast, and the

Muisca The Muisca (also called the Chibcha) are indigenous peoples in Colombia and were a Pre-Columbian culture of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense that formed the Muisca Confederation before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The Muisca spe ...

, who lived in the highlands to the South. Arepas, made from ground corn, is one of the oldest cooked dishes in Colombian cuisine and a popular modern dish. It is believed that the name derives from the word for corn in the

Chibcha The Muisca (also called the Chibcha) are indigenous peoples in Colombia and were a Pre-Columbian cultures of Colombia, Pre-Columbian culture of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense that formed the Muisca Confederation before the Spanish colonizati ...

languages.

Regional cuisines

Colombian dishes and ingredients vary widely by region; however, some of the most common ingredients include an endless variety of staples: cereals such as rice and

maize Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. Native American ...

; tubers such as potato and

cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although ...

; assorted

legume Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consum ...

s; meats, including beef, chicken, pork, and goat; and fish and other seafood. Colombian cuisine also features a wide variety of tropical

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

. Among the most representative appetisers and soups are

sancocho Sancocho (from the Spanish verb ''sancochar'', "to parboil") is a traditional stew in several Caribbean and Latin American cuisines. Latin variations represent popular national dishes in Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Pana ...

de gallina (chicken soup with root vegetables), of beef, of pork ribs or triphasic, sancocho of fish, the

ajiaco Ajiaco () is a soup common to Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.Clark, Melissa (October 28, 2011)"From Colombia, the Ultimate One-Pot Meal" ''The New York Times''. Accessed April 2016. Scholars have debated the origin of the dish. The dish is especially p ...

(potato and corn soup),

patacones Tostones (, from the Spanish verb ''tostar'' which means "to :wikt:toast, toast") are twice-fried Plantain (cooking), plantain slices commonly found in Latin American cuisine and Caribbean cuisine. Most commonly known as ''tostones'' in Puerto R ...

(fried green plantains), and

buñuelo A ''buñuelo'' (, alternatively called ''boñuelo'', ''bimuelo'', ''birmuelo'', ''bermuelo'', ''bumuelo'', ''burmuelo'', or ''bonuelo'', is a fried dough fritter found in Spain, Latin America, and other regions with a historical connection to Spa ...

s (Christmas season deep fried dough balls). Representative snacks and breads are

arepa ''Arepa'' () is a type of flatbread made of ground maize dough stuffed with a filling, eaten in northern parts of South America since pre-Columbian times, and notable primarily in the cuisine of Colombia and Venezuela, but also present in Bolivi ...

s (corn cakes),

torta Torta is a culinary term that can, depending on the cuisine, refer to cakes, pies, flatbreads, sandwiches, or omelettes. Usually, it refers to: * cake or pie in South America, much of Europe, and southern Philippines * flatbread in Spain * a t ...

s de

choclo Choclo, also referred to as Peruvian corn or Cuzco corn (after Cuzco, the capital city of the Inca empire), is a large- kernel variety of field corn from the Andes. It is consumed in parts of Central America and South America, especially in Ecua ...

almojábana Almojábana is a type of bread made with cuajada cheese and corn flour. About An almojábana is a small, bun-shaped bread with a tart flavor. It has some variations between Hispanic America and Spain. The etymology stems from Andalusī Arab ...

pandebono Pandebono or pan de bono is a type of Colombian bread made of cassava starch, cheese, eggs, and in some regions of the country, guava paste. Traditionally, it is consumed with hot chocolate, still warm a few minutes after baking. It is very po ...

s, aborrajados (fried sweet plantains with cheese),

empanada An empanada is a type of baked or fried turnover (food), turnover consisting of pastry and stuffing, filling, common in Culture of Spain, Spain, other Southern European countries, North African countries, South Asian countries, Latin American c ...

s, and

mogolla Mogolla is a small, sometimes sweet, bread produced in Colombia, commonly hand-sized or smaller, with a round top and flat bottom. Mogollas are usually made of wheat or corn meal combinations. One of the most famous versions is filled with pieces ...

s. Representative main courses are

bandeja paisa Bandeja paisa (; ), with variations known as bandeja de arriero, bandeja montañera, and bandeja antioqueña, is one of the most representative meals in Colombian cuisine, especially of the Antioquia department and the Paisa region, as well as ...

, lechona tolimense,

tamales A tamale, in Spanish , is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of ''masa'', a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tam ...

, and fish dishes such as

arroz de lisa Arroz de lisa (mullet rice) is a traditional Colombian cuisine dish from the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) coast. It is cooked with mullet, a sea fish found in brackish waters, like those at river mouths. In addition to the mullet which are usually ...

, especially in coastal regions where

suero Suero, also referred to as suero costeño or suero atollabuey, is a fermented-milk-based condiment from Colombia's Caribbean coastal region. It is somewhat similar to yogurt or sour cream. It is served as an accompaniment for various dishes and ...

costeño cheese Costeño cheese is a dairy product from the Colombian Caribbean Region. It is fresh (or blanco), soft, and salty. Some harder varieties have more salt. Production Raw milk is separated into solid curds and liquid whey by adding rennet, whe ...

, peto costeño made from white corn,

kibbeh Kibbeh (, also kubba and other spellings; ; ) is a popular dish in the Arab world and the Levant in particular based on spiced lean ground meat and bulgur wheat. Kibbeh is considered to be a national dish of Lebanon and Syria. In Levantine ...

, and

carimañola A carimañola is a Central and South American meat-pie in a torpedo-shaped yuca fritter, stuffed with cheese, seasoned ground meat or shredded chicken and fried. It is found in Colombia and Panama. References See also * Colombian cuisine ...

s are also eaten. Representative side dishes are papas criollas al horno (roasted Andean potatoes), papas chorreadas (potatoes with messy cheese), and

arroz con coco Coconut rice is a dish prepared by cooking white rice in coconut milk or coconut flakes. As both the coconut and the rice-plant are commonly found in the tropics all around the world, coconut rice too, is found in many cultures throughout the wo ...

(coconut rice).

Organic food Organic food, also known as ecological or biological food, refers to foods and beverages produced using methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resou ...

is a current trend in big cities, although in general, the country's fruits and vegetables are very natural and fresh. Representative desserts are

natilla The manjar blanco (, or also in Spanish as manjar de leche), known in Catalan as menjar blanc or menjablanc, is a term used in Spanish- and Catalan- speaking areas of the world in reference to a variety of milk-based delicacies. It refers to v ...

bocadillo The () or (in Cheli), in Spain, is a sandwich made with Spanish bread, usually a baguette or similar type of bread, cut lengthwise. Traditionally seen as a humble food, its low cost has allowed it to evolve over time into an iconic piece of ...

made of guayaba (guava jelly),

cocadas Cocada are a traditional coconut confectionery found in many parts of Latin America and Europe. They are particularly popular in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuado ...

(coconut balls), casquitos de guayaba (candied guava peels),

torta de nata ''Torta de nata'' is a traditional Colombian cuisine Colombian cuisine is a culinary tradition of six main regions within Colombia: Insular, Caribbean, Pacific, Andean, Orinoco, and Amazonian. Colombian cuisine varies regionally and is influence ...

oblea Oblea is a wafer dessert from several countries in Latin America, and has variants across Europe. It consists of two thin wafers sandwiching a sweet filling. While obleas are typically filled with arequipe, they may also contain jam, cheese, f ...

s, flan de

arequipe ''Dulce de leche'' (), caramelized milk, milk candy, or milk jam is a confection commonly consumed after slowly heating sugar and milk over several hours. The substance takes on a spreadable, sauce-like consistency and derives its rich flavour ...

roscón Roscón is a sweet bread-based ring-shaped dessert typical of Spanish cuisine. The Roscón de Reyes, Roscón of Kings, is traditionally eaten on the Epiphany, January 6. Roscón de Reyes - Mallorquina.jpg, Roscón de Reyes - Mallorquina Rosc� ...

milhoja Milhojas ("thousand sheets") is a type of dessert of French origin that is found nowadays in Spain and Latin America. It is a local name for mille-feuille in Spanish-speaking countries. They are made with stacked layers of puff pastry,

, brevas (preserved in syrup) con arequipe, and

tres leches cake A tres leches cake (; , or ), ''dulce de tres leches'', also known as ''pan tres leches'' () or simply ''tres leches'', is a sponge cake originating in North, Central, and South America soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed ...

(

sponge cake Sponge cake is a light cake made with egg whites, flour and sugar, sometimes leavened with baking powder. Some sponge cakes do not contain egg yolks, like angel food cake, but most do. Sponge cakes, leavened with beaten eggs, originated during ...

soaked in 3 types of milk). Typical sauces are

hogao Hogao is a variant of Spanish sofrito and is typically used in Colombian cuisine. It is traditionally made with only long green onions and tomatoes, differing from guiso, which can also be made with round onions, garlic, cumin, salt In ...

, a tomato onion sauce, and ají, a spicy raw cilantro-based sauce used as a condiment for many dishes and sides, which can be used for most foods. Ají sauce comes in many different varieties based on region and ranges from a sweet flavour to very spicy. Ají picante can range from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville. Some representative beverages are coffee (

tinto Tinto is an isolated hill in the south of the Central Lowlands just to the north of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It comprises little more than one top, which stands on the west bank of the River Clyde, some west of Biggar. The peak is a ...

), aromáticas,

champús Champús is a drink popular in South America, particularly Ecuador, Peru and southwest Colombia. It is made with corn, fruits (such as lulo, also known as naranjilla), pineapple, quince or guanábana, sweetened with panela and seasoned with cinna ...

cholado ''Cholado'', ''raspao'', or ''raspado'' is an icy beverage with fresh fruit and sweetened condensed milk traditionally from Jamundí, in the region of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. It is made from crushed ice or shaved ice, chopped fruit, condense ...

lulada Lulada is a traditional Colombian beverage from Cali, in the Valle del Cauca Department of Colombia. It is prepared from lulo, a fruit common to the region, lime juice, water, and sugar for sweetness. It often has the texture and consistency of ...

s, avena colombiana,

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...

juice,

aguapanela Aguapanela, ''Water, agua de panela'' or ''agüepanela'' is a drink commonly found throughout South America and a few parts of Central America and Caribbean. Its literal translation means "panela water" as it is an infusion made from panela whic ...

, chocolate caliente, and fresh fruit juices (often made with sugar and water or milk as batidos). There are a large variety of dishes that take into account the differences in regional climates. For example: * In

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

and the Andean region of the

Altiplano Cundiboyacense The Altiplano Cundiboyacense () is a high plateau located in the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes covering parts of the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá. (Do not confuse with The Altiplano or the Altiplano Nariñense, both fur ...

is the traditional dish. It is also a type of soup made with chicken and

potato The potato () is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'', a perennial in the nightshade famil ...

es and flavoured with a locally grown, subtle herb called "

guasca Guasca is a Colombian town and municipality in the Guavio Province, part of the Cundinamarca Department located approximately 55 km from Bogotá passing through the town of La Calera, Cundinamarca or 65 km passing through Sopó. Guasca ...

". Caldo de costilla, or caldo de res, is a beef

broth Broth, also known as bouillon (), is a savory liquid made of water in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered for a short period of time. It can be eaten alone, but it is most commonly used to prepare other dishes, such as soups ...

soup made with beef ribs, corn, and potatoes, and is often consumed for breakfast on cold mornings. * In the city of

Medellín Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...

, the typical dish is

. It includes

bean A bean is the seed of some plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) used as a vegetable for human consumption or animal feed. The seeds are often preserved through drying (a ''pulse''), but fresh beans are also sold. Dried beans are traditi ...

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

ground meat Ground meat, called mince or minced meat outside North America, is meat finely chopped by a meat grinder or a chopping knife. A common type of ground meat is ground beef, but many other types of meats are prepared in a similar fashion, incl ...

, or

carne asada Carne asada is grilled and sliced beef, usually skirt steak, flap steak, or flank steak though chuck steak (known as ''diezmillo'' in Spanish) can also be used. It is usually marinated then grilled or seared to impart a charred flavor. Car ...

chorizo ''Chorizo'' ( , ; ; see #Names, below) is a type of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. It is made in many national and regional varieties in several countries on different continents. Some of these varieties are quite differe ...

fried egg A fried egg is a cooked dish made from one or more eggs which are removed from their shells and placed into a frying pan and cooked. They are traditionally eaten for breakfast or brunch in many countries but may also be served at other times o ...

, and

chicharrón (, plural ; ; ; ) is a dish generally consisting of fried pork belly or fried pork rinds. may also be made from chicken, mutton, or beef. Name , as a dish with sauces, or as finger-food snacks, are popular in Andalusia and Canarias in ...

. It is usually accompanied by

avocado The avocado, alligator pear or avocado pear (''Persea americana'') is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to Americas, the Americas and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica more than 5,000 years ago. It was priz ...

tomato The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible Berry (botany), berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originate ...

es, and special sauces. * In the city of

Cali Santiago de Cali (), or Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with 2,280,522 residents estimate by National Administrative Department of Statistics, DANE in 2023. The city span ...

, the most traditional dish is " sancocho de gallina," a soup composed mostly of

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus''), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and is now one of the most common and w ...

, plantains,

corn Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout Poaceae, grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago ...

coriander Coriander (), whose leaves are known as cilantro () in the U.S. and parts of Canada, and dhania in parts of South Asia and Africa, is an annual plant, annual herb (''Coriandrum sativum'') in the family Apiaceae. Most people perceive the ...

, yuca root, and other seasonings. Sancocho is usually served with a portion of rice, tostadas (fried plantains), a chicken leg covered in hogao (a tomato and onion sauce), and a slice of

. The city is also known for its empanadas (a fried corn dough filled with potatoes and meat), or (a fried ball of plantain filled with chicharron, also known as pork rinds), pandebono (a delicious cheese bread made with yucca dough), and aborrajados (sweet, ripe fried plantains filled with cheese and served with guava paste). * On the

Caribbean coast Tung Chung ( "Tung Chung River, eastern stream") is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. One of the most recent New towns of Hong Kong, new towns, it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay, and alon ...

, spicy dishes, including

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

and

lobster Lobsters are Malacostraca, malacostracans Decapoda, decapod crustaceans of the family (biology), family Nephropidae or its Synonym (taxonomy), synonym Homaridae. They have long bodies with muscular tails and live in crevices or burrows on th ...

, can be found.

Coconut rice Coconut rice is a dish prepared by cooking white rice in coconut milk or coconut flakes. As both the coconut and the rice-plant are commonly found in the tropics all around the world, coconut rice too, is found in many cultures throughout the wo ...

is a common dish in coastal cities. The cuisine of the Caribbean is also influenced by Arab traditions, with dishes such as

Kibbeh Kibbeh (, also kubba and other spellings; ; ) is a popular dish in the Arab world and the Levant in particular based on spiced lean ground meat and bulgur wheat. Kibbeh is considered to be a national dish of Lebanon and Syria. In Levantine ...

. * In the Andean region of Santander's (

Norte de Santander Norte de Santander (Spanish for Northern Santander) () is a department of northeastern Colombia. It is in the north of the country, bordering Venezuela. Its capital is Cúcuta, one of the country's major cities. Norte de Santander is bordere ...

and Santander), the cuisine of these region has, among others, the Santander

mute Muteness is a speech disorder in which a person lacks the ability to speak. Mute, Mutes or the Mute may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Mute'' (2005 film), a short film by Melissa Joan Hart * ''Mute'' (2018 film), ...

, the exotic culona ants, the

Prochilodus magdalenae ''Prochilodus magdalenae'' is a tropical prochilodontid freshwater fish from Colombia. It is found in the Atrato, Sinú, Cauca and Magdalena Rivers. It has been measured to reach in standard length and in weight. They have a growing role in ...

(bocachico), the Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum (bagre), and cebollitas ocañeras. * In the Tolima region, the Tamales Tolimenses are a delicacy. These tamales are made of corn dough and feature

peas Pea (''pisum'' in Latin) is a pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable. Carl Linnaeus gave the species the scientific name ''Pisum sativum ...

carrots The carrot (''Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in colour, though heirloom variants including purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the Daucus ...

, potatoes, rice, chicken,

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...

, and various

spices In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...

. They are wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled for three to four hours. Pandebono is eaten for breakfast with hot chocolate. * In the Andean region of Nariño, a traditional dish is broiled

guinea pig The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (''Cavia porcellus''), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy ( ), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus ''Cavia'', family Caviidae. Animal fancy, Breeders tend to use the name "cavy" for the ani ...

(''cuy asado''), influenced by

Inca cuisine Inca cuisine originated in pre-Columbian times within the Inca civilization from the 13th to the 16th century. The Inca civilization stretched across many regions on the western coast of South America (specifically Peru), and so there was a grea ...

. * In the

Llanos The Llanos ( Spanish ''Los Llanos'', "The Plains"; ) is a vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, in northwestern South America. It is an ecoregion of the tropical and subtropical grasslands, ...

barbecue Barbecue or barbeque (often shortened to BBQ worldwide; barbie or barby in Australia and New Zealand) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that employ live fire and smoke to coo ...

d meats, such as the "ternera llanera," and river fish like the "amarillo," are commonly eaten. * In the Amazonas, the cuisine is influenced by Brazilian and Peruvian traditions. * Inland, the dishes reflect a mix of

Amerindian In the Americas, Indigenous peoples comprise the two continents' pre-Columbian inhabitants, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with them in the 15th century, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with the pre-Columbian population of ...

and

European cuisine European cuisine (also known as Continental cuisine) comprises the cuisines originating from the various countries of Europe. The cuisines of European countries are diverse, although some common characteristics distinguish them from those of oth ...

and use the products of local agriculture, cattle farming, and river fishing. Such is the case with the

soup in

Valledupar Valledupar () is a city and municipality in northeastern Colombia. It is the capital of Cesar Department. Its name, ''Valle de Upar'' (Valley of Upar), was established in honor of the Amerindian cacique who ruled the valley; ''Cacique Upar''. The ...

and

Arepa ''Arepa'' () is a type of flatbread made of ground maize dough stuffed with a filling, eaten in northern parts of South America since pre-Columbian times, and notable primarily in the cuisine of Colombia and Venezuela, but also present in Bolivi ...

s, a corn-based bread-like patty. Local species of animals, like the guartinaja, are part of the

Wayuu The Wayuu (also Wayu, Wayú, Guajiro, Wahiro) are an Indigenous ethnic group of the Guajira Peninsula in northernmost Colombia and northwest Venezuela. The Wayuu language is part of the Arawakan language family. Throughout their history, they ...

culture. * On the Islands of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, the main dish is ''rondon'', a

seafood Seafood is any form of Marine life, sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including Fish as food, fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of Mollusca, molluscs (e.g., bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters, and mussel ...

dish made of

coconut milk Coconut milk is a plant milk extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of the milky-white liquid are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food ingred ...

, fish, conch,

cassava root ''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although a perennia ...

(yuca),

sweet potato The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its sizeable, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable, which is a staple food in parts of ...

, white yams, and

pumpkin A pumpkin is a cultivar, cultivated winter squash in the genus ''Cucurbita''. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many dif ...

, seasoned with

chilli pepper Chili peppers, also spelled chile or chilli ( ), are varieties of berry-fruit plants from the genus ''Capsicum'', which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for their pungency. They are used as a spice to add pungency ( ...

s and

herb Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...

s. They also have crab soup, which is considered a delicacy and is made with the same ingredients as ''rondon'' but without the fish.

Piqueteadero A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

s are rustic eateries that serve a variety of fried foods and specialties on platters to share. Offerings can even include huesos cerdos (pig bones) and

tarta de seso Tarta de seso is a beef brain pie in Colombian cuisine. It is a type of food sometimes served at piqueteadero A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the p ...

(brain pie), as well as fried dishes, morcilla, corn on the cob, and other foods common to Colombia.

Dishes and foods

Appetizers and side dishes

Pastries and baked goods

* Achira are made from achira flour (native to the region) instead of wheat flour *

Almojábana Almojábana is a type of bread made with cuajada cheese and corn flour. About An almojábana is a small, bun-shaped bread with a tart flavor. It has some variations between Hispanic America and Spain. The etymology stems from Andalusī Arab ...

, small

cheese bun Cheese buns or cheese breads may refer to a variety of small, baked, cheese-flavored rolls, a popular snack and breakfast food in Brazil. Cheese buns may be made with cassava and or corn starch, and cheese. In countries where the snack is popula ...

s made with corn flour and

cuajada Cuajada ( milk curd) is a dairy product traditionally made from sheep's milk, but now it is more often made industrially from cow's milk. It is popular in the northern regions of Spain (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, Navarre, Aragon, Casti ...

Bollos A bollo is a bun, popular in Latin America, made from corn, yuca, or potato. Variations are found in the cuisines of Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba (Tamal de maíz solamente) and Panama. Corn and yuca bollos are an indigenous food of the Caribbean coas ...

(tubes of ground maize -similar to Italian polenta- or from scratched mandioc/cassava, served with coastal cheese and sometimes

whey Whey is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a byproduct of the manufacturing of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Sweet whey is a byproduct resulting from the manufacture of rennet types of hard c ...

or butter) * Buñuelos deep-fried dough balls made on Christmas season *

Carimañola A carimañola is a Central and South American meat-pie in a torpedo-shaped yuca fritter, stuffed with cheese, seasoned ground meat or shredded chicken and fried. It is found in Colombia and Panama. References See also * Colombian cuisine ...

s (like empanadas but made up of

manioc ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although ...

) * Garullas (corn

bread roll A bread roll is a small, oblong individual loaf of bread served as a meal accompaniment (eaten plain or with butter). Rolls can be served and eaten whole or are also commonly cut and filled – the result of doing so is considered a '' sandwic ...

) * Pan de sagú (

sago Sago () is a starch extracted from the pith, or spongy core tissue, of various tropical palm stems, especially those of ''Metroxylon sagu''. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, where it is c ...

bread) *

Pandebono Pandebono or pan de bono is a type of Colombian bread made of cassava starch, cheese, eggs, and in some regions of the country, guava paste. Traditionally, it is consumed with hot chocolate, still warm a few minutes after baking. It is very po ...

made with cheese made with cassava flour and Costeño cheese * Pan de maíz similar to cornbread *

Pan de queso Pan de queso () is a traditional razilian roll made with tapioca flour and grated cheese. It is served plain or filled with cream cheese or jam. This food is especially common in the Paisa region of Colombia as breakfast or parva (food), parva. ...

(cheese bread, made with cassava starch, corn flour, cheese, butter, sugar) *

Pan de yuca Pan de yuca ('' Spanish for Cassava bread'') is a type of bread made of cassava starch and cheese typical of western Ecuador and southern Colombia. History An 1856 watercolor by Manuel María Paz shows cassava bread being prepared by members of ...

(baked cheese bread made with cassava flour) *

Roscón Roscón is a sweet bread-based ring-shaped dessert typical of Spanish cuisine. The Roscón de Reyes, Roscón of Kings, is traditionally eaten on the Epiphany, January 6. Roscón de Reyes - Mallorquina.jpg, Roscón de Reyes - Mallorquina Rosc� ...

(a soft and sweet bagel filled with either

Arequipe ''Dulce de leche'' (), caramelized milk, milk candy, or milk jam is a confection commonly consumed after slowly heating sugar and milk over several hours. The substance takes on a spreadable, sauce-like consistency and derives its rich flavour ...

guava Guava ( ), also known as the 'guava-pear', is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava '' Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), nativ ...

jam)

Varieties of arepa

boyacense * Arepa de arroz * Arepa de huevo * Arepa de maiz * Arepa de queso * Arepa de yuca * Arepa ocañera * Arepa paisa (antioqueña) * Arepa santandereana * Arepa valluna * Arepas de choclo (sweet corn) * Brown rice and sesame seed arepa * Rice arepas (oreja de perro)

Fruit

Colombia is home to numerous tropical fruits that are rarely found elsewhere. Several varieties of bananas include a very small, sweet version. Other fruit varieties grown in Colombia include

apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

pear Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the Family (biology), family Rosaceae, bearing the Pome, po ...

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

blackberry BlackBerry is a discontinued brand of handheld devices and related mobile services, originally developed and maintained by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM, later known as BlackBerry Limited) until 2016. The first BlackBerry device ...

and

strawberry The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown Hybrid (biology), hybrid plant cultivated worldwide for its fruit. The genus ''Fragaria'', the strawberries, is in the rose family, Rosaceae. The fruit ...

. Fruit and juice stands are found across Colombia, particularly on the Caribbean coast. Being a tropical country, Colombia produces a large variety of fruits, such as: Papaya - longitudinal section

Annona cherimola The cherimoya (''Annona cherimola''), also spelled chirimoya and called chirimuya by the Quechua people, is a species of edible fruit-bearing plant in the genus ''Annona'', from the family Annonaceae, which includes the closely related sweetsop ...

, cherimoya, (''chirimoya'') *

Annona muricata Soursop (also called graviola, guyabano, and in Latin America ) is the fruit of ''Annona muricata'', a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. It is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean and is widely propagated. It ...

, soursop, (''guanábana'') *

Annona squamosa ''Annona squamosa'' is a small, well-branched tree or shrub from the family Annonaceae that bears edible fruits called sugar apples or sweetsops or custard apples. It tolerates a tropical lowland climate better than its relatives ''Annona reticul ...

, sugar-apple, (''anón'') *

Acrocomia aculeata ''Acrocomia aculeata'' is a species of palm native to the Neotropics. Common names Common names include grugru palm, ''gloo gloo'', ''corojo'', macaúba palm, coyol palm, and macaw palm; synonyms include ''A. lasiospatha, A. sclerocarpa'', and ' ...

(''tamaca'') *

Aiphanes horrida ''Aiphanes horrida'' is a palm native to northern South America and Trinidad and Tobago. ''Aiphanes horrida'' is a solitary, spiny tree. In the wild it grows 3–10 metres tall (9–30 feet) tall with a stem diameter of 6–10 centimetres (2� ...

(''corozo'') *

Bactris gasipaes ''Bactris gasipaes'' is a species of Arecaceae, palm native to the tropical forests of Central America, Central and South America. It is well spread in these regions, where it is often cultivated by smallholders in agroforestry systems or more ...

, peach-palm, (''chontaduro'') *

Banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus '' Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing the ...

, murrapos, mini-banana, (''banano''), *

Borojoa patinoi ''Alibertia patinoi'', commonly known as , is a small (2-5m), dioecious tropical rainforest tree, one of the few edible fruit bearing species in the Rubiaceae family. Borojó, native to the world's wettest lowlands (the Chocó–Darién moist fo ...

(''borojó'') *

Carambola Carambola, also known as star fruit, is the fruit of '' Averrhoa carambola'', a species of tree native to tropical Southeast Asia. The edible fruit has distinctive ridges running down its sides (usually 5–6). When cut in cross-section, it re ...

, starfruit, (''carambolo'') *

Carica papaya The papaya (, ), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant species ''Carica papaya'', one of the 21 accepted species in the genus ''Carica'' of the family Caricaceae, and also the name of its fruit. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within ...

(''papaya'') *

Cashew Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree ''Anacardium occidentale'', in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as t ...

(''marañon'') *

Citrullus lanatus The watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae, that has a large, edible fruit. It is a scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, and is widely cultivated worldwide, with more than 1,000 ...

, watermelon, (''sandia or patilla'') * Citrus × aurantiifolia, key lime, acid lime, (''limero or limonero'') * Citrus × latifolia, Persian lime, (''limón Tahití'') *

Citrus × limon The lemon (''Citrus'' × ''limon'') is a species of small evergreen tree in the ''Citrus'' genus of the flowering plant family Rutaceae. A true lemon is a hybrid of the citron and the bitter orange. Its origins are uncertain, but some evi ...

, lemon, (''limón'') *

Citrus reticulata A mandarin orange (''Citrus reticulata''), often simply called mandarin, is a small, rounded citrus tree fruit. Treated as a distinct species of orange, it is usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. The mandarin is small and oblate, unlike the ...

, mandarin orange, (''mandarina'') *

Citrus × sinensis ''Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' (sometimes written ''Citrus sinensis''), a hybrid between pomelo (''Citrus maxima'') and mandarin orange, mandarin (''Citrus reticulata''), also known as the sweet oranges, is a commonly cultivated species of Orange ( ...

, orange, (''naranja'') *

Cocos nucifera The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the f ...

, coconut, (''coco'') *

Eugenia stipitata ''Eugenia stipitata'' (Araza, Portuguese common names araçá, araçá-boi , Spanish common name arazá, from Guarani arasa; also known as membrillo in Ecuador) is a fruit tree native to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecu ...

, araçá-boi, (''arazá'') *

Feijoa sellowiana ''Feijoa sellowiana'' also known as ''Acca sellowiana'' (O.Berg) Burret, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is native mainly to the highlands of Colombia, southern Brazil and the hills of northeast Uruguay, but i ...

, pineapple guava, (''feijoa'') *

Garcinia mangostana Mangosteen (''Garcinia mangostana''), also known as the purple mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree with edible fruit native to Island Southeast Asia, from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. It has been cultivated extensively in tropical Asia ...

, Mangosteen, (''mangostino'') *

Inga edulis ''Inga edulis'', known as ice-cream bean, ice-cream-bean, joaquiniquil, cuaniquil (both from Nahuatl: ''cuahuxinicuile'' combining ''cuahuitl'' "tree"; ''icxitl'' "feet" and ''necuilli'' "crooked") guama or guaba, is a fruit native to South Amer ...

, ice-cream-bean, (''guama'') *

Mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

Manilkara zapota ''Manilkara zapota'', commonly known as sapodilla (), sapote, chicozapote, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, nispero, or soapapple, among other names, is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. An example natural occurrence is ...

(''níspero'') *

Melicoccus bijugatus ''Melicoccus bijugatus'' is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Its stone-bearing fruits, commonly called ...

(''mamoncillo'') *

Passiflora edulis ''Passiflora edulis'', commonly known as passion fruit, is a vine species of passion flower native to the region of southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas for Passi ...

, passion fruit, (''maracuyá'') *

Passiflora ligularis ''Passiflora ligularis'', commonly known as the sweet granadilla, grenadia or Sugarfruit, is a plant species in the genus '' Passiflora''. It is known as ''granadilla'' in Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, The Azores, ...

, banana passionfruit, (''granadilla'') *

Passiflora quadrangularis ''Passiflora quadrangularis'', the giant granadilla, barbadine (Trinidad), grenadine (Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the ...

, (''badea'') *

Passiflora tarminiana ''Passiflora tarminiana'' (or banana passionfruit) is a species of passionfruit. The yellow fruits are edible and their resemblance to small, straight bananas has given it the name banana passionfruit in some countries. It is native to the uplan ...

, banana passionfruit, (''curuba ecuatoriana'') *

Passiflora tripartita ''Passiflora tripartita'' also called curuba, tumbo, curuba de Castilla and tumbo serrano is a species of Passiflora from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil in areas at elevations of 2000 – 3200 meters. Description The banana passi ...

(''curuba'') *

Persea americana The avocado, alligator pear or avocado pear (''Persea americana'') is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to Americas, the Americas and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica more than 5,000 years ago. It was priz ...

, avocado, (''aguacate'') *

Physalis peruviana ''Physalis peruviana'' is a species of plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) native to Chile and Peru. Within that region, it is called aguaymanto, uvilla or uchuva, in addition to numerous indigenous and regional names. In English, its co ...

, cape gooseberry, (''uchuva'') *

Pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a Tropical vegetation, tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been culti ...

(''piña'') *

Piñuela ''Bromelia pinguin'' is a plant species in the genus '' Bromelia''. This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America. It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida. It is very common in Jamaica J ...

Pitaya Pitaya () or pitahaya () (common names strawberry pear or dragon fruit) is the fruit of several cactus species indigenous to the region of southern Mexico and along the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. Pitaya is cult ...

, dragon fruit, (''pitahaya'') *

Pouteria sapota ''Pouteria sapota'', the mamey sapote, is a species of tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. It is now cultivated throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as Florida and parts of South America. Its fruit ...

, mamey sapote, (''zapote costeño'') *

Psidium cattleyanum ''Psidium cattleyanum'' (World Plants: ''Psidium cattleianum''), commonly known as Cattley guava, strawberry guava or cherry guava, is a small tree ( tall) in the Myrtaceae (myrtle) family. The species is named in honour of English horticulturis ...

, strawberry guava, (''arazá rojo'') *

Psidium guajava ''Psidium guajava'', the common guava, yellow guava, lemon guava, or apple guava is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Caribbean, Central America and South America. It is easily pollinator, pollinated by insects; when cultivated, it ...

, apple guava, (''guayaba'') * Psidium guineense, guinea guava, (''guayaba ágria'') *

Quararibea cordata ''Quararibea cordata'', known as the South American sapote or chupa-chupa, is a large, semi-deciduous fruit tree reaching heights of up to 45 meters. It is native to the Amazon rainforest vegetation in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Descript ...

(''zapote sudamericano'') *

Rubus glaucus ''Rubus glaucus'', commonly known as ' or Andean raspberry, is a species of blackberry found in Latin America from Mexico to Bolivia, including the northern and central Andes. It is similar to a loganberry in terms of taste and utility. ''Rubus ...

, blackberry, (''mora'') *

Solanum quitoense ''Solanum quitoense'', known as naranjilla (, "little orange") in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama and as lulo (, from Quechua) in Colombia, is a tropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. The specific name for this species of ni ...

, naranjilla, (''lulo'') *

Spondias purpurea ''Spondias purpurea'' is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to tropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico to northern Colombia and the southwest Caribbean Islands. It has also been introduced to a ...

(''Ciruela or cocota'') *

Strawberry The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown Hybrid (biology), hybrid plant cultivated worldwide for its fruit. The genus ''Fragaria'', the strawberries, is in the rose family, Rosaceae. The fruit ...

(''fresa'') *

Syzygium jambos ''Syzygium jambos'' is a species of rose apple originating in Southeast Asia and occurring widely elsewhere, having been introduced as an ornamental and fruit tree.Janick, Jules. Paull, Robert E. The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts. Publisher: C ...

, malabar plum, (''pomarrosa'') *

Tamarindus indica Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa and naturalized in Asia. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the f ...

, tamarind, (''tamarindo'') *

Tree tomato The tamarillo (''Solanum betaceum'') is a tree or shrub in the flowering plant family Solanaceae (the nightshade family). It bears the tamarillo, an egg-shaped edible fruit. It is also known as the ''tree tomato'', ''tomate de árbol'', ''toma ...

, tamarillo, (''tomate de árbol'') * Vasconcellea pubescens, mountain papaya, (''papayuela'')

Main courses

Arroz con Pollo ''Arroz con pollo'' ( Spanish for ''rice with chicken'') is a traditional dish of Latin America. It typically consists of chicken cooked with rice, onions, saffron, and a potential plethora of other grains or vegetables. In the Dominican Republi ...

consists of seasoned rice, chicken, and a variety of vegetables. *

Bandeja Paisa Bandeja paisa (; ), with variations known as bandeja de arriero, bandeja montañera, and bandeja antioqueña, is one of the most representative meals in Colombian cuisine, especially of the Antioquia department and the Paisa region, as well as ...

, a traditional dish from Antioquia, and the "Eje Cafetero," which consists of white rice, red beans, ground beef, plantains,

morcilla A blood sausage is a sausage filled with blood that is cooked or dried and mixed with a filler until it is thick enough to solidify when cooled. Most commonly, the blood of pigs, sheep, lamb, cow, chicken, or goose is used. In Europe and the ...

, chicharron,

, and a fried egg. Along with ''

Ajiaco Ajiaco () is a soup common to Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.Clark, Melissa (October 28, 2011)"From Colombia, the Ultimate One-Pot Meal" ''The New York Times''. Accessed April 2016. Scholars have debated the origin of the dish. The dish is especially p ...

'', the bandeja paisa is considered one of the national dishes. *

Cuchuco Cuchuco is a soup, part of Native American cuisine of South America associated with the Muisca people, made with corn, barley or wheat and mashed beans, popular in Colombian cuisine, especially Altiplano of the Boyacá Department, Boyacá and Cund ...

, a thick soup made of wheat,

fava beans ''Vicia faba'', commonly known as the broad bean, fava bean, or faba bean, is a species of vetch, a flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated as a crop for human consumption, and also as a cover crop. Vari ...

, potatoes, ribs, and peas, is from Boyacá. Also barley or corn soup. * Cuy asado, broiled guinea pig, accompanied by potatoes and popcorn. It is the traditional dish in Nariño. *

Lechona A suckling pig is a piglet fed on its mother's milk (i.e., a piglet which is still a "suckling"). In culinary contexts, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in ...

, a traditional dish from the Tolima department, is a mixture of yellow pea purée and pork meat, with a side of rice and corn . *

Picada Picada () is one of the characteristic sauces and culinary techniques essential to Catalan cuisine. The technique is typically found in Catalonia and Valencia and subsequently Catalan cuisine and Valencian cuisine. It is not an autonomous sauce l ...

Colombiana, chopped specialties served as a combo platter. *

Tamale A tamale, in Spanish language, Spanish , is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of ''masa'', a dough made from nixtamalization, nixtamalized maize, corn, which is steaming, steamed in a corn husk or Banana leaf, banana leaves. The wrapping ...

s are corn or corn/rice "cakes" wrapped in plantain tree leaves and steamed. They can be filled with everything from chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots to rice. The tamales vary in shape and fillings in each region, and almost every region has its own variation. Some well-known variations are from Tolima, Santander,

Cúcuta Cúcuta (), officially San José de Cúcuta, is a Colombian municipality, capital of the department of Norte de Santander and nucleus of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta. The city is located in the homonymous valley, at the foot of the East ...

, and Valle del Cauca; just to name a few. * Fritanga is another popular Colombian dish made of meats, fried plantains, chicharrones, and yellow potatoes with aji sauce eaten throughout Colombia. Milanesa is another common meat dish throughout the country. * Frijolada («frejolada» o «

feijoada Feijoada (, ; from , 'bean') is the name for varieties of bean stew with beef or pork * Cocido boyacense, culinary preparation from the Altiplano Cundiboyacense.

Soups

Changua Changua (milk broth with eggs) is a typical hearty breakfast soup of the central Andes region of Colombia, in particular in the Boyacá Department, Boyacá and Cundinamarca Department, Cundinamarca area, including the capital, Bogotá. It also has ...

(milk soup with eggs) is a typical breakfast

soup Soup is a primarily liquid food, generally served warm or hot – though it is sometimes served chilled – made by cooking or otherwise combining meat or vegetables with Stock (food), stock, milk, or water. According to ''The Oxford Compan ...

of the central

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

region of

, in particular in the Boyacá, Cundinamarca and Santander, including the capital of the country,

. The dish has

origins. The broth is served in a bowl with curly cilantro and a piece of hard bread called "calado" that is softened in the changua. Cilantro can be added as an option even while the soup is boiling. Next, add the eggs carefully so as not to break them. *

Caldo de costilla Caldo de costilla (Spanish for ''rib broth'') is a dish typical of Colombian cuisine, from the Andean region. It is made mainly from beef ribs boiled in water with slices of potato, some garlic, onion and cilantro leaves. The caldo de costilla ...

(Spanish for rib broth) is a dish typical of Colombian cuisine from the

Andean The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...

region. It is made mainly from beef ribs boiled in water with slices of

, some

garlic Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plants in the genus '' Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chives, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion. Garlic is native to central and south Asia, str ...

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' , from Latin ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classifie ...

, and

cilantro Coriander (), whose leaves are known as cilantro () in the U.S. and parts of Canada, and dhania in parts of South Asia and Africa, is an annual herb (''Coriandrum sativum'') in the family Apiaceae. Most people perceive the leaves as ha ...

leaves. *

Locro Locro or lojro (from the Quechua ) is a hearty thick squash or potato stew, associated with Native Andean civilizations, and popular along the Andes mountain range. It is one of the national dishes of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, ...

is a typical dish in the Nariño region. It is a corn, beans,

zapallo Calabaza is the generic name in the Spanish language for any type of winter squash. Within an English-language context it specifically refers to the West Indian pumpkin, a winter squash typically grown in the West Indies, tropical America, and t ...

, and potato stew. *

Mondongo ''Sopa de mondongo'' is a soup that originally came from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It is made from diced tripe (the stomach of a cow or pig) slow-cooked with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, ...

is a very filling traditional Colombian soup, containing a bit of almost everything. The base is made of diced tripe, to which are added several vegetables such as peas, carrots, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes, along with garlic, cilantro, and chicken, beef, and/or pork. *

Mute Muteness is a speech disorder in which a person lacks the ability to speak. Mute, Mutes or the Mute may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Mute'' (2005 film), a short film by Melissa Joan Hart * ''Mute'' (2018 film), ...

is a soup from Boyacá,

and Santander. In general, beef rib, parts of pork, tripe, corn and vegetables are used for its preparation. *

Sancocho Sancocho (from the Spanish verb ''sancochar'', "to parboil") is a traditional stew in several Caribbean and Latin American cuisines. Latin variations represent popular national dishes in Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Pana ...

is a popular soup originating from the Valle del Cauca region. It combines vegetables and poultry or fish with recipes differing from one region to the next, but usually contains

yuca ''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although a perennia ...

and

and is frequently eaten with

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus '' Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing the ...

slices. *

is a traditional Andean soup that originated in Bogotá. It is a chicken, corn, and potato stew with a hint of

( Gallant Soldiers), a local herb.

Desserts and sweets

is Colombia's version of the

Dulce de Leche ''Dulce de leche'' (), caramelized milk, milk candy, or milk jam is a confection commonly consumed after slowly heating sugar and milk over several hours. The substance takes on a spreadable, sauce-like consistency and derives its rich flavour ...

, a milk caramel. *

Arroz con leche Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much less commonly, ' ...

, sweetened rice with milk. *

Bocadillo The () or (in Cheli), in Spain, is a sandwich made with Spanish bread, usually a baguette or similar type of bread, cut lengthwise. Traditionally seen as a humble food, its low cost has allowed it to evolve over time into an iconic piece of ...

, guava paste. * Brevas en dulce, candied figs in syrup, or

. *

Cocadas Cocada are a traditional coconut confectionery found in many parts of Latin America and Europe. They are particularly popular in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuado ...

are baked

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...

confections similar to

macaroons A macaroon ( ) is a small cake or cookie, originally made from ground almonds, egg whites, and sugar, but now often with coconut or other nuts. They may also include jam, chocolate, or other flavorings. Etymology The name ''macaroon'' is b ...

. *

Enyucado Enyucado is a cheesecake in Colombian cuisine cassava cake made with cassava and coconut, sugar, and sometimes anise, and guava jam. Enyucado is from the Caribbean region of Colombia. In Costa Rican cuisine, an enyucado is a fried cassava croqu ...

is cake that has grounded cassava. * Flan is a type of custard dessert. * Gelatina de pata (Leg jelly ) is obtained naturally from the leg of the beef until the collagen dissolves. *

Leche asada Leche asada (literally "roasted milk") is a dessert from Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Ant ...

, similar to flan but less sweet, is made with condensed milk. *

Manjar blanco The manjar blanco (, or also in Spanish as manjar de leche), known in Catalan as menjar blanc or menjablanc, is a term used in Spanish- and Catalan- speaking areas of the world in reference to a variety of milk-based delicacies. It refers to v ...

is a boiled, creamy, milk-based spread that is thicker than

and sometimes used as a pastry filling. A nationally recognized presentation is manjar blanco with guava jelly. *

Mazamorra , or masamorra, (from , from , influenced by Spanish , 'dough') is the name for numerous traditional dishes from Latin America. Regional variations Argentina In Argentina, is a traditional dish. It is a dessert with native roots made with whit ...

, a white maize drink. * Melado, a thick syrup derived from

panela Panela () or rapadura (Portuguese pronunciation: ) is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. Panela is known by other names in Lati ...

. * Merenguitos, little hardened meringue "cookies." *

Milhoja Milhojas ("thousand sheets") is a type of dessert of French origin that is found nowadays in Spain and Latin America. It is a local name for mille-feuille in Spanish-speaking countries. They are made with stacked layers of puff pastry,

, similar to Mille-feuille or Napoleon (literally means thousand layers). * Natilla, a Colombian derivation of the Spanish custard

natillas () is a term in Spanish for a variety of custards and similar sweet desserts in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, this term refers to a custard dish made with milk and eggs, similar to other European creams as . In Colombia, the delicacy doe ...

, is made with milk, cornflour and spices but without eggs. * Pastel de Gloria is a puff pastry containing guava jelly or guava paste and sometimes cheese inside, sprinkled with granulated sugar. * Postre de Natas, a milk-based Colombian pudding, literally means milk skin dessert. * Torta Maria Luisa, orange cake, and between layers any berry jam, decorated with icing sugar. *

Tres leches cake A tres leches cake (; , or ), ''dulce de tres leches'', also known as ''pan tres leches'' () or simply ''tres leches'', is a sponge cake originating in North, Central, and South America soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed ...

, "three-milk" cake. File:Pargo rojo Red snapper by thefuturistics.png, ''Fried Red Snapper, fried plantain, rice and tomato'' File:Arroz atollado.jpg, ''rice atollao'' File:Caldo y cilantro.JPG, ''A caldo de costilla served hot and with

leaves'' File:Sancocho de espinazo de cerdo.jpg,

of pork backbone File:Fryingplantains10-28-06b.jpg, ''

Patacones Tostones (, from the Spanish verb ''tostar'' which means "to :wikt:toast, toast") are twice-fried Plantain (cooking), plantain slices commonly found in Latin American cuisine and Caribbean cuisine. Most commonly known as ''tostones'' in Puerto R ...

are twice-fried plantain patties, often served as a side, appetizer, or snack. Here they are being fried for the second time'' File:Empanada barranquillera.jpg, ''

barranquillera'' File:Cocadas colombianas by P R.png, ''

'' File:Bollo de yuca.jpg, ''Bollo de yuca'' File:Chocolate Especial.jpg, ''A traditional breakfast of

hot chocolate Hot Chocolate are a British soul band formed by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson. The group had at least one hit song every year on the UK Singles Chart from 1970 to 1984. Their hits include " You Sexy Thing", a UK number two which also made ...

with cheese,

s and

pan de queso Pan de queso () is a traditional razilian roll made with tapioca flour and grated cheese. It is served plain or filled with cream cheese or jam. This food is especially common in the Paisa region of Colombia as breakfast or parva (food), parva. ...

'' File:Salsas.jpg, Ají sauce from Bogotá File:Menjablanc.jpg, ''

'' File:Venta de queso costeño.jpg, Costeño cheese is originally from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia File:Bocadillo.jpg, ''

with leaf packaging'' File:Arroz de lisa 2 - Barranquilla.jpg, ''

Arroz de lisa Arroz de lisa (mullet rice) is a traditional Colombian cuisine dish from the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) coast. It is cooked with mullet, a sea fish found in brackish waters, like those at river mouths. In addition to the mullet which are usually ...

Beverages

On a per capita basis, Colombia is one of the world's largest consumers of

juice Juice is a drink made from the extraction or Cold-pressed juice, pressing of the natural liquid contained in fruit and vegetables. It can also refer to liquids that are flavored with concentrate or other biological food sources, such as meat ...

s, consuming on average more than three-quarters of a serving each day.Singh, Gitanjali M., et al. "Global, regional, and national consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, and milk: a systematic assessment of beverage intake in 187 countries." PLoS ONE 10.8 (2015): e0124845. *

Aguapanela Aguapanela, ''Water, agua de panela'' or ''agüepanela'' is a drink commonly found throughout South America and a few parts of Central America and Caribbean. Its literal translation means "panela water" as it is an infusion made from panela whic ...

is made by dissolving

(a kind of

sugarloaf A sugarloaf was the usual form in which refined sugar was produced and sold until the late 19th century, when granulated and cube sugars were introduced. A tall cone with a rounded top was the end product of a process in which dark molasses, ...

) in water. Lime juice may be added for flavor. It can be served cold or hot. When served hot, it is common for Colombians to put fresh farmer's cheese in their aguapanela for it to melt. * Aromáticas are hot herbal teas, often served to guests with a little cracker or cookie on the side during social visits. * Batidos are creamy fruit drinks served cool and made with fruit and milk, occasionally sweetened with sugar. Popular flavours include papaya and blackberry. *

Champús Champús is a drink popular in South America, particularly Ecuador, Peru and southwest Colombia. It is made with corn, fruits (such as lulo, also known as naranjilla), pineapple, quince or guanábana, sweetened with panela and seasoned with cinna ...

is a thick drink made from corn, pineapple, lulo, and other ingredients. * Chocolate caliente, or Colombian hot chocolate, is a common breakfast meal made with milk, water, and bars of semi-sweet chocolate. A special metal pitcher (called a

chocolatera Chocolatera is a type of high-necked metal pot shaped like a pitcher used for the traditional preparation of hot chocolate drinks in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is ...

) is used for heating and pouring, and a utensil called a molinillo–essentially a stick with paddles at the end–is used for stirring and frothing. Colombian hot chocolate often includes cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla and is frequently consumed with sweet bread dipped in it. Fresh cheese is often dropped in to melt and spread on the bread. *

Coca tea Coca tea, also called mate de coca, is a herbal tea (infusion) made using the raw or dried leaves of the cocaine-containing coca plant, which is native to South America. It is made either by submerging the coca leaf or dipping a tea bag in hot wa ...

, an

herbal tea Herbal teas, technically known as herbal infusions, and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Often herb tea, or the plai ...

made from an

infusion Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). An inf ...

of the leaves of the

coca Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine. Coca leaves contain cocaine which acts as a mild stimulant when chewed or ...

plant is considered a mild stimulant and a remedy for

altitude sickness Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a harmful effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. People's bodies can respond to high altitude in different wa ...

. *

Colombian coffee Coffee production in Colombia has a reputation for producing mild, well-balanced coffee beans. Colombia's average annual coffee production of 11.5 million bags is the third total highest in the world, after Brazil and Vietnam, though highe ...

is known for its quality and distinct flavor. Though much of the world's quality coffee beans come from Colombia, many Colombians commonly drink instant coffee rather than brewed coffee. It is popularly consumed as a "tinto," meaning black with sugar or

on the side, or as

café con leche is a coffee beverage common throughout Spain and Latin America consisting of strong coffee (usually espresso) mixed with scalded milk in approximately equal amounts. The amount of milk can be higher in a ''café con leche en vaso'' or a ''caf� ...

, which is a preparation of half coffee and half heated milk. In 2011,

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

declared the

Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia The Coffee Axis () is a geographic, cultural, economic and ecological region of Colombia, located in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, as well as the regions of northwestern Tolima, northern and eastern Valle del Cauca and southw ...

a World Heritage Site.Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia
UNESCO, unesco.org * Colombiana is a kola champagne soda with a particular and different taste (

generic trademark A generic trademark, also known as a genericized trademark or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name that, because of its popularity or significance, has become the generic term for, or synonymous with, a general class of products or ...

). * Guandiolo is an Afrocolombian drink made with

Borojo ''Alibertia patinoi'', commonly known as , is a small (2-5m), dioecious tropical rainforest tree, one of the few edible fruit bearing species in the Rubiaceae family. Borojó, native to the world's wettest lowlands (the Chocó–Darién moist fo ...

fruit that has alleged

aphrodisiac An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases libido, sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. These substances range from a variety of plants, spices, and foods to synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs, such as ...

properties. *

Lulada Lulada is a traditional Colombian beverage from Cali, in the Valle del Cauca Department of Colombia. It is prepared from lulo, a fruit common to the region, lime juice, water, and sugar for sweetness. It often has the texture and consistency of ...

is a drink originating from Cali. It is prepared from

lulo ''Solanum quitoense'', known as naranjilla (, "little orange (fruit), orange") in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama and as lulo (, from Quechua languages, Quechua) in Colombia, is a tropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. The spec ...

and has the texture and consistency of a smoothie. *

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

: carbonated malt non-alcoholic beverage (

). *

Postobón Postobón, S.A. ( ) is the largest Colombian beverage company, and also one of the largest in South America. The company has a wide portfolio of products that includes soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water, tea, an energy drink, and coffee. ...

, a variety of soda flavours from the maker of Colombiana, the most popular flavour being apple ("Manzana") (

genericized trademark A generic trademark, also known as a genericized trademark or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name that, because of its popularity or significance, has become the generic term for, or synonymous with, a general class of products or ...

). * Salpicón (which literally means large splash) is made from diced fruit and soda, usually ''Colombiana'' or any ''Kola'' flavoured soda. It can also be a fruit cocktail beverage (often made with watermelon or mandarin juice). The traditional fruit one consists of mixing banana, pineapple, papaya, watermelon, etc. File:Cholado jamundi.jpg, ''

Cholado ''Cholado'', ''raspao'', or ''raspado'' is an icy beverage with fresh fruit and sweetened condensed milk traditionally from Jamundí, in the region of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. It is made from crushed ice or shaved ice, chopped fruit, condense ...

'' File:A small cup of coffee.JPG,

is known for its quality and distinct flavor File:Champus.jpg, ''

Alcoholic beverages

Aguardiente ( Portuguese) or ( Spanish) (; ; ) is a type of distilled alcoholic spirit that contains between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is a somewhat generic term that can refer to liquors made from various foods. It originates from and is t ...

is an alcoholic drink derived from sugarcane and flavoured with anise. It is widely consumed at Colombian parties and ranges in potency from 20% to 40%. It is a variation of the Spanish alcoholic drink.

Canelazo ''Canelazo'' is a hot alcoholic beverage consumed in the Andean highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentine Northwest, northern Argentina. In Colombia and Ecuador It typically consists of ''aguardiente'' (sugar cane alcohol), sugar or ''pa ...

is traditionally an alcoholic version of

mixed with cinnamon and aguardiente. Sugar is rubbed on the edges of the glass when served. ** Hervido is a local variety of ''canelazo'', traditional in Nariño. It is often made with fruit juice (typically naranjilla, mora, or maracuyá juice). * Chapil is a traditional beverage in Nariño. *

Chicha ''Chicha'' is a Fermentation, fermented (alcoholic) or non-fermented beverage of Latin America, emerging from the Andes and Amazonia regions. In both the pre- and post-Spanish conquest of Peru, Spanish conquest periods, corn beer (''chicha de jo ...

is a formerly forbidden strong alcoholic beverage originally made by the indigenous peoples of the Andes. It can be prepared from virtually everything but is typically made from corn. The corn is cooked and grounded with

, which is later wrapped in green plantain leaves and left alone for three days until fermented. It is later mixed with water and any chosen flavours, such as orange leaves or spearmint. * Guarapo is made from various fruits kept in a large ceramic jar and left to ferment. Within that time, panela is added to the liquid to make the alcohol stronger. Grapes and pineapples are typically used. ** Chirrinche, distillated guarapo. This is fermented for several days and then transferred to a container where it is heated until a distillation process is carried out and it becomes the liquor. * Masato is prepared with rice, sugar, water, cinnamon, and whole clove (spice); it is strained, and the water is preserved and let aside to have a smooth fermentation. * Refajo is a type of

shandy Shandy is beer or cider mixed with a lemon flavoured beverage, usually half lemonade and half beer or cider, resulting in a lower ABV for the finished drink. Shandies are popular in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbea ...

beverage made by mixing ''Kola Hipinto'' (in the Santanderian region), ''Colombiana'' (in cities like Bogota), or ''Kola Roman'' (in the Caribbean region) with beer or rum. This mixture of soda and beer is very popular and seen a lot when it comes to accompanying foods that are higher in animal fat, generally at barbecues. The combination of the sweetness of the kola, the sourness of the beer, and the additional effect of the carbonated soda helps tolerate the fat in some of the typical dishes without hiding their original flavour. * Sabajón is a sweet and creamy alcoholic drink from the Cordillera Oriental. It is made from eggs and milk with added flavours and juices of fruits and liqueur in half or less concentration. * Viche (or biche) is a traditional home-brewed Afro-Caribbean alcoholic drink made from

sugar cane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...

popular on

's Pacific Coast. File:Chicha - Fiesta del Huán - Templo del Sol - Suamox - Boyacá - Colombia.jpg , ''Chicha'', Huán Festival - Temple of the Sun in

Sogamoso Sogamoso () is a city in the department of Boyacá of Colombia. It is the capital of the Sugamuxi Province, named after the original Sugamuxi. Sogamoso is nicknamed "City of the Sun", based on the original Muisca tradition of pilgrimage and ado ...

. File:Rones de colombia 5.JPG,

Rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...

(Ron) File:Botella de Aguardiente Antioqueño.jpg, Aguardiente File:Licor Artesanal.jpg, Guajiro liquor

References

{{Authority control South American cuisine Latin American cuisine