Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast Food - Off The Grid Traveler

Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast Food

The Caribbean side of Costa Rica has a rich history that is reflected in its food. And the food is delicious!

Banana’s and chocolate are the main staple in the diet of the indigenous tribes that have lived in Costa Rica long before any settlers arrived are primarily the Bribi and Guaymi.

Having a history of living off the land, and with banana and cocoa plantains growing abundantly in this region, they have perfected the art of preparing bananas in more ways imagined. I had the honor of spending the morning at “Wilke’s” or “Grandma’s” house in the Yorkin Bribri tribe where she served me a banana wrapped in a banana leaf, slow cooked over a wood fire, to the point where the banana had caramelized on the outside and was soft on the inside.

Dipped in freshly made cocoa, the sweet and tantalizing flavors gave me a late morning sugar high that I usually save until evening. But, who am I to be rude and pass up dessert!

No meal in Costa Rica would be authentic without rice and beans. In 1502 Christopher Columbus encountered Costa Rica and soon after the Spanish colonized the country.

The Spanish influence brought rice and beans into the daily diet which to this day, is a part of nearly every single dish eaten throughout all of Costa Rica. High in protein and nutrients, the high diet of black beans is thought to be why the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is part of the Blue Zone, contributing to long and healthy life spans.

What makes the food on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica most flavorful and unique is its Jamaican and West Indies spices.

In 1872 the first boat arrived from Kingston Jamaica, bringing workers to build a railroad from Limon to San Jose. Soon after domino’s, calypso music and food based in coconut milk and spiced with pepper, curry, hot chili, rosemary and thyme slow cooked to perfection became a mainstay. Today, Afro-Caribbean foods can enjoyed such as slow cooked jerk chicken, Pati, or Rondon soup made with yacca, camote, nampi, plaintains and the local fish.

The Caribbean Coast is a vegetarian’s paradise!

Because of the hot tropical climate, the Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica and Panama is home to roughly 90% of medicinal plants and good growing conditions for fruits and vegetables. People from all over the world are drawn here to indulge in the healing and health benefits of the plant based foods.

Dozens and dozens of various fruits can be bought on the side of the road, including my favorite refreshment, coconut water! At the farmers markets, natural juices, medicinal recipes, Kefir probiotics, Mucuna powder are just a few examples of what you can buy.

A typical dish on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is not just one thing, it is all the influences blended together. When I taste the banana, I’m reminded of the indigenous people who have been here for 10’s of thousands of years and trying hard to maintain their culture.

Rice and beans are an inexpensive way to keep me full, reminding me that the early Spanish settlers had to make due with very little as they developed the country.

The rich spices were probably comforting to Jamaicans, reminding them of family and homeland far away. And when I drink my coconut water I’m reminded that Mother Nature is the greatest healer of all.

The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is a spicy melting pot of history, which can be tasted in every single bite.

How to Get Here – From San Jose, the bus takes about 4 1/2 hours. The departure station and schedules can be found by downloading the free Off The Grid Traveler app.