Colombia is rightfully proud of its cuisine and the ease with which you can find it. Our country has street food on every corner too, so there’s never any need to pack a snack in your bag. Here are some of the nation’s favorites:
Fruit
Colombia is fruit country and it’s easily available when you’re on the run. You’ll find towering strawberries and avocados and freshly-squeezed orange and carrot juice everywhere you look. The best fruit-on-the-go is freshly cut papaya and mango in a cup or salpicon, the traditional fruit salad mixed with soda. (You may also enjoy: Colombia’s 10 most exotic fruits)
Photo: Martha Rivero
Arepas
Most Colombian regions boast their own arepa and street arepas are particularly useful when you rush out without breakfast. Arepas are disks made from corn dough, kneaded with water and salt. Arepas with an egg inside (arepa e huevo) are popular on the Caribbean coast, whereas the Boyaca arepa adds sugar and cheese to the mix.
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Empanadas
Everyone loves an empanada and, once again, the street version of this tasty snack varies depending on the region. Colombian empanadas are made from cornmeal, which is deep fried or baked. Diners in Bogota are particularly fond of a meat and potato filling, whereas chorizo empanadas are most popular in Antioquia.
Photo: Eddy Milfort
Bollo de Mazorca
The bollo de mazorca, or steamed corn roll, is the coastal street food of choice. This deliciously simple offering is a roll of corn wrapped in a corn husk, which is steamed and served with melting butter and cheese. The perfect snack to accompany a balmy evening on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Photo: Wikimedia
Obleas
Obleas fulfill the dessert component when it comes to Colombian street food. They are huge, circular wafers that are spread with an assortment of flavors, including arequipe (Colombia’s famed caramel sauce) jam and cheese. Hungry customers usually put two obleas together to create a sandwich effect, with the filling inside.
Photo: William Neuheisel
Coffee
No street meal would be complete without a coffee to round things off and, of course, this is Colombia so there are tinto (black coffee) vendors everywhere you look, merrily dispensing their pre-sugared coffee from a huge thermos flask. Enjoy! (You can also read: Traditional Colombian tipples)
Photo: CIAT
It’s clear that if you like to grab food on-the-go and feel like a local, the answer is Colombia. If you liked this article, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ or any of your social networks.
