Colombia Food: What to Know and Eat

Colombia has one of the richest and most diverse cuisines in the world, with a strong influence from neighbouring countries such as Venezuela and Argentina. Each region has its own specialities, but most share common ingredients such as cassava, plantain or corn, which can be found in dishes both as a main ingredient and as an accompaniment. Although you’re probably familiar with arepas, you should know that there is so much typical Colombian food, as we’ll tell you below.

In this post we tell you which are the essential dishes that you should include in your menu, as well as the best desserts and some really curious drinks. In Colombia there is a wide variety of tropical fruits that are used for both sweet and savoury dishes such as bananas and coconuts. If you like to eat well, Colombia is the country for you. So take note and don’t miss out on what we tell you below.

What are the typical dishes of Colombia?

1. Arepas, the most famous Colombian food

Arepas are one of the most famous dishes internationally and one that they share with Venezuela. It is a circular bread made from corn flour that can be filled with different combinations, although the most common filling is cheese and egg. Each region has its own arepas with fillings of all kinds. This delicacy can be eaten both as a main dish and as a side dish, and it is very common to share it at street stalls.

2. Bandeja Paisa, the most typical Colombian dish

This hearty dish composed of 9 ingredients is considered the national food of Colombia. It is typical of the Paisa region and formerly the daily diet of its inhabitants. The ingredients are: rice, chorizo, eggs, ground beef, beans, avocado, pork rinds and plantain slices. Some restaurants make their own versions of the dish, but abundance is always a key feature.

To organize your trip we recommend using the Passporter where you can get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that most interest you to add to your route map.

3. Ajiaco, the most famous soup

Ajiaco is a soup made with corn, chicken, sour cream and potatoes. It comes from the Andes area, but nowadays it is consumed all over the country. It’s a hearty dish that’s often accompanied by rice and avocado. Ask about the portion size before ordering more dishes. This dish is really comforting and you’re sure to love it.

4. Tamales, a classic among the typical food of Colombia

Tamales are on the list of typical Colombian dishes shared by several South American countries. In Colombia they are mainly eaten as breakfast, but can actually constitute any meal of the day. The tamale, which consists of a corn dough cooked in banana leaves, is a versatile dish that can be combined with many flavours. Sometimes it is filled with meat, sometimes with vegetables, cheese or even fruit. Whatever your preferences, you’re sure to find the time to try it. You can buy them in restaurants, street stalls and supermarkets.

5. Sanchoco

Of Spanish origin, sancho is another of the country’s most famous soups that has adapted to the tastes of each region over the years. That is why the ingredients vary depending on the area. While on the coast it is made with fish, inland it is eaten with chicken or other sources of protein. Even so, there are several ingredients that are always common, such as yucca, corn, potatoes and plantains. It is a very hearty dish that is usually accompanied by white rice.

6. Fritanga, Colombian barbecue

Although the name is not very inviting, the fritanga is one of the favourites among Colombia food. You could say it’s Colombia’s version of the barbecue, serving different cuts of meat cooked on the grill and accompanied by cassava, potatoes or corn. It is usually a dish you share with family or friends, which is why it is served in the centre of the table and everyone pokes at it with their fork. There are always various sauces to dip the fritanga meat in.

7. Lechona, the queen of Colombian food

From the region of Tolima, the suckling pig has been climbing the ranks of the country’s gastronomy to position itself as one of the most famous and appreciated food in Colombia. On your trip you are sure to find it on many menus. This dish consists of pork, chickpeas, spices and sometimes rice. The pork is cooked for 10 hours together with the rest of the ingredients, so that the flavours combine and the textures are amazing. Another one for the list.

8. Pandebono, Colombia’s most iconic bread

In a country where corn, cassava and rice are the main source of carbohydrates, it’s hard to think of bread. However, there is, of course, bread made from maize flour and cassava. It is a soft bread, almost like a brioche, sometimes served with guava paste. You can find them easily in Colombian pastry shops and bakeries.

Discover what else to see in Colombia What to see and do on a trip to Colombia

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What are the typical sweets of Colombia?

1. Plátanos Calados, a classic

The plantain is one of the most common ingredients in Colombian cuisine, both salty and sweet. This dessert is a classic that is usually prepared by grandmothers and is often used as an accompaniment to food. Plátanos calados are made with very ripe plantains that are cut into large chunks and toasted in a pan with butter, cinnamon and cinnamon. It is the perfect dessert for those with a sweet tooth. A very common combination is to have this dessert with vanilla ice cream or fresh cheese.

2. Cocadas, the freshest dessert

This delicacy of Afro-Colombian origin is one of the most widespread sweets along the Caribbean coast for its incredible taste and freshness. It is made from shredded coconut, milk and sugar, but there are many versions and variants in each village. You’ll find it in different colours and flavours; lemon, coffee, exotic fruit flavoured or simply coconut flavoured.

3. Mielmesabe, a must-have

Mielmesabe is one of the most curious desserts of Colombia. It is made by cutting the milk with vinegar and then mix the solid with panela and fry it. It has a very characteristic flavour and texture, which is hard to describe, so we recommend you try it.

4. Merengón, one of Colombia’s most typical desserts

Merengón is reminiscent of pavlova, as it is a dry meringue accompanied by fruit. In Colombia there is a wide variety of tropical fruits, which make this dessert one of the most colourful on the menu. You can also buy it from street stalls. Many places serve it with condensed milk or cream, but you can always order it plain if you don’t want it to be too sweet.

5. Colombian custard

Although custard is originally European, the Colombian people knew how to reinterpret it and adapt it to their tastes and more accessible ingredients. This food is eaten mainly at Christmas in Colombia, made from corn, cinnamon, milk and cinnamon, and sometimes coconut. You can usually eat it with fritters.

6. Guava snack

Originally from the municipality of Velez, the sandwich is made from guava and sugar. You could say that it is a kind of quince jelly, and although it can be eaten alone or with milk. It is also used in other dishes such as the roscón, or in a very common banana and melted cheese dessert. It’s definitely a sweet food you have to try on your trip to Colombia.

7. Arequipe, the sweetest sauce

Arequipe is a dense and very sweet sauce consisting of caramelised milk, very similar to dulce de leche. It is undoubtedly the most used complement to accompany different desserts, sweets, ice cream and even fruits such as grapes or grapes, or to eat it by spoonfuls because it is delicious. In every Colombian house there is a jar of arequipe in a cupboard somewhere.

What are the typical drinks of Colombia?

1. Aguapanela, the most comforting drink

The aguapanela is a very widespread drink in the country and can be drunk either hot or cold. It is made from water and panela, and sometimes lemon is added. It is drunk on a daily basis with cheese, arepas and almojábana, and is also attributed with energising properties and as a remedy for colds. Its alcoholic version has the same ingredients but instead of water, aguardiente.

2. Chicha, an ancestral corn drink

This curious alcoholic drink is made by fermenting the sugars of corn, although in some regions it is also prepared with cassava or pineapple. The degree of sweetness and alcohol depends on the level of fermentation. A curious fact is that in the past, fermentation came from the bacteria in the indigenous people’s own mouths, as they chewed the corn before putting it in the pots. Nowadays fermentation is much more controlled and very specific bacteria are artificially inoculated.

3. Refajo, the everyday drink

This original drink from the 90s was a mix of beer and soda, usually flavoured. You could call it a clara, but the flavoured soda they use in Colombia gives it a unique flavour. It is a very refreshing drink and is common at celebrations and in everyday life when friends get together. The drink is so widespread that you can even buy the mix ready-made in the supermarket.

4. Viche, the most famous alcoholic drink

This drink was originally drunk for its aphrodisiac effects and for stomach pains, and today it is consumed as a spirit. It is made from sugar cane, and other ingredients are often added to soften the flavour. The alcohol content of this Pacific craft drink is similar to that of aguardiente, and it is also a basic ingredient for other brews such as tomaseca, arrechón or tumbacatre.

The alcohol content of this Pacific craft drink is similar to that of aguardiente, and it is also a basic ingredient for other brews such as tomaseca, arrechón or tumbacatre.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Colombia

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of every place you’ve visited to the app and recommend the best typical Colombian dishes to other travellers.

If you have doubts about how to organise your trip, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about food in Colombia