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Visiting the Fruit and Vegetable Stand
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Visiting the Fruit and Vegetable Stand. It’s the little things that make Costa Rica so special, and the taste of fruits and vegetables is one of those things. The difference between eating fresh vine-ripened and shipping-ripened...
Chocolate: A Superfood? Unveil the Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate!
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text]Hey chocolate lovers! Grab a bar of your favorite dark chocolate, and let's chat about something utterly delightful. You know that heavenly treat we often crave? Well, guess what? It's not just a guilty pleasure....
Costa Rica Cocoa History: Discovering the Journey of Chocolate
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]Nestled in the heart of Central America, Costa Rica remains an unparalleled bastion of cocoa indulgence, resonating deeply within the souls and tastes...
Cancer-Fighting Superfoods
Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, research found. Cancer-Fighting Superfoods You Can Add To Your Plate Today If you are searching for everyday foods that quietly support your body’s defences, broccoli, walnuts, garlic and beans are a...
Soda Tapia – A True Urban Legend
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Costa Rica’s capital wakes early. Boardshorts slap the pavement on the way to first light at Jacó, office workers queue for busetas, and somewhere above it all a pair of scarlet macaws argue noisily in an almendro tree....
Simply Spanish – Visiting a Soda
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Spanish Terms for Visiting a Soda Walking into a Costa Rican soda – those small, family-run diners dotted across towns and villages – is one of the easiest ways to step straight into real local life. Between volcano day trips, surf...
Superfoods – Amazing Almonds
[vc_row full_width="full_width"][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_message] Waking up in Costa Rica comes with its own soundtrack: howler monkeys in the hills, waves in the distance and someone grinding coffee in the kitchen. Adventure, culture, nightlife, wildlife, real...
Wellness: Superfoods – Guanabana
Costa Rica has a way of weaving guanábana into almost every part of daily life. You sip it as a cold fresco after a long surf session, lick it off a dripping ice cream cone at a beach fiesta, and see it piled high in market stalls beside plantains and papayas while...
Celebrating the Dining Culture of Costa Rica
Expat Traditional Holiday Meals Go Tico? Expats can beautifully combine traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas foods with Costa Rican influences by blending familiar holiday dishes with local ingredients and flavors. For Thanksgiving, incorporating Costa Rican staples...
Recipe of The Month – Ceviche
Costa Rican Ceviche: the cool, zesty bite of pura vidaCosta Rica has a way of turning simple moments into mini-adventures—morning surf followed by strong coffee, live marimba drifting from the plaza, scarlet macaws flashing through the canopy, and business chats that...
Superfoods – The Sweet Side of Sweet Potatoes
You won’t believe the nutritional value of these squiggly pinkish potatoes. Costa Rica runs on bright mornings and bold flavours—volcano walks before emails, marimba in the plaza after work, gallery nights, sportfishing weekends, and markets where growers greet you by...
Whole Fried Red Snapper (Pargo Rojo Frito): A Coastal Classic in Costa Rica
What is Whole Fried Red Snapper? Whole fried red snapper, known locally as Pargo Rojo Frito, is a beloved coastal dish where the fish is fried in its entirety until the skin turns golden and crisp, locking in the moist, tender flesh inside. It’s a culinary showpiece...
The Plantain Playbook: Costa Rica’s Favourite Fruit Gets the Star Treatment
What makes plantains a staple in Costa Rican kitchens? Plantains are essential in Costa Rican cooking because they’re affordable, versatile, and can be transformed into sweet or savoury dishes depending on their ripeness. You’ll find them on almost every table, from...
Recipe: Smash Tacos
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Quick, easy, and tasty! Try this for your next taco treat. Thank you John Brockmeier for sharing. From the Howler Magazine Facebook Group Recipe by Ereka Vetrini, support her sites at these links. Erika's Instagram...
Pineapple-infused Sweet and Sour Chicken: A Tropical Twist
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Pineapple Sweet & Sour Chicken: A Crowd-Pleaser with Costa Rican Flair Costa Rica is all flavour and feeling—volcano views at breakfast, markets humming at noon, marimba at dusk. It’s a country where adventures shape...
Tamales at Your Table
Costa Rica is a country that loves a good gathering: sunrise surf and volcano treks, marimba in the plaza, gallery nights that spill into dinner, wildlife that steals the show, real estate chats over coffee, and businesses built on relationships. At the centre of so...
Cooking with Papaya
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Papaya in Costa Rica: From Kitchen Staple to Culinary Secret Weapon Costa Rica is a place where volcano hikes meet sunset surf, where marimba music drifts across plazas and start-ups share the spotlight with eco-lodges....
Fire and Flavor: The Art of Costa Rican BBQ and Street Grilled Meats
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text] Costa Rican BBQ: Fire, Flavour and the Sabanero Spirit (#howlermag #howlermagazine) Costa Rica is where adventure meets appetite. Volcano hikes and...
Coffee and Chocolate: Who Can Resist?
Upon arriving in La Fortuna, the main town near Arenal Volcano, my husband, Vern, and I began exploring the area for things to do. I had seen a sign coming into town advertising coffee and chocolate tours. Well, who doesn’t love coffee...and chocolate? What a GREAT...
Recipe of The Month – Snapper a la Talla
Costa Rica tastes like adventure on a plate—surf mornings and volcano views, marimba in the plaza, scarlet macaws overhead, and a dinner table that blends coastal bounty with family tradition. Whether you come for wildlife, scout neighbourhoods for a real-estate move,...
A Sweet Celebration: Exploring Traditional Christmas Desserts Across Latin America
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4" css=".vc_custom_1691013008333{background-color: #f9ecc5 !important;}"][vc_column_text]As the festive season approaches, the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Latin America come to the forefront, especially in the realm of desserts....
The Real Taste of Costa Rica “Chiliguaro”
Chiliguaro: Costa Rica’s Spicy National Shot (with roots, rituals and real-world examples) Costa Rica folds Adventures, Culture, Entertainment, wildlife, Real Estate, Business and Food into everyday life — and you can taste that mix in a tiny glass of chiliguaro. This...
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in Costa Rica: Taste, Trails & Trade
Costa Rica’s dragon fruit—known locally as pitaya—touches everything travellers and residents love about the country. You can chase adventures on backroads to sunlit trellis farms, feel the pulse of culture at feria markets, sip magenta mixers in beach-town...
Ahi Tuna: From “Wishing I Was Fishing” to Dinner Tonight
Ahi Tuna: From “Wishing I Was Fishing” to Dinner Tonight The Pacific wore that slate-blue glare that makes every ripple feel like a promise. A frigatebird cut low, the skipper eased the throttle, and the line began to sing. Thirty yards out—flash, thump, and a...
Green Mango with Chilero: A Zesty Costa Rican Favourite
What is green mango with chilero? Green mango with chilero is a classic Costa Rican street snack made from unripe mango slices topped with a vinegar-and-chilli mix. This tangy, spicy treat balances sourness from the mango with the heat of the chilero, creating a...
Cocina de la Abuela: Recipes with Roots
Traditional Costa Rican Recipes Passed Down Through Generations What are the most beloved traditional dishes from Costa Rican grandmothers? Costa Rican grandmothers have long preserved the country’s culinary soul through humble, nourishing meals. These recipes tell...
Rainforest to Recipe: Wild Flavours and Forgotten Foods of Costa Rica
What are Costa Rica’s hidden jungle ingredients? Costa Rica’s jungles hold a treasure chest of forgotten flavours that once nourished local communities long before supermarkets and modern menus. These include wild tubers, jungle fruits, native nuts, and herbs that...
Cooking with Red Snapper
[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]The variety of ways to cook red snapper is an exciting topic for seafood lovers. Red snapper is a delicious and popular fish known for its firm texture and mild flavor. As a high school student with an interest in...
The Secret Life of Mamón Chino: From Farm to Fingers
f you've ever driven through Costa Rica in July or August, chances are you've spotted roadside vendors standing behind huge piles of spiky red fruit. Maybe you bought a plastic bag of them, bit into the soft flesh, and smiled at the burst of tart-sweet flavour. That’s...
Seasonal Sips: July’s Best Tropical Cocktails
Local bartenders share drink recipes that balance sun, humidity, and beachside bliss. What makes a perfect July cocktail in the tropics? A great July cocktail should be cooling, fruity, and easy to sip under the sun. The best drinks in Costa Rica during this time...
How to Eat a Cas Fruit Without Regretting It: Tricks to Tame Costa Rica’s Tart Treat
Cas fruit—sharp, tangy, and fiercely Costa Rican—is one of those local flavours that divides opinion. Some say it’s deliciously refreshing; others say it tastes like sour punishment in pulp form. The truth? It depends entirely on how you eat it. Prepared properly, cas...
The Dish That Smells Like Rain—and Tastes Like Childhood
Costa Rica’s Olla de Carne with Ñampi and Tacacos: A Bowl of Wet-Season Nostalgia When the first rains hit the Costa Rican countryside, something magical starts simmering in kitchens across the country. It’s not just food—it’s a memory steeped in steam and firewood....
Jungle Mushrooms—And the Chefs Who Can’t Get Enough
Costa Rica’s Rainy-Season Fungi Frenzy, From Gourmet Delights to Glow-in-the-Dark Oddities When Costa Rica’s skies open and the forest floor turns spongy, something strange and wonderful begins to stir—mushrooms. Not the sad white ones in plastic wrap. We're talking...
Food That Only Appears in Floods: Nature’s Secret Menu of the Wet Season
Flood season foods in Costa Rica When the rivers overflow and fields transform into shimmering lagoons, Costa Rica’s flood season reveals a little-known culinary bounty. It’s not just about survival—it’s about flavour, tradition, and knowing where to look when the...
Pejibaye: Costa Rica’s Nutrient-Packed Tropical Treasure
Pejibaye, also known as peach palm fruit, is a staple in Costa Rica and much of Central and South America. This small, brightly colored fruit might not look like much at first glance, but it is packed with flavor, nutrients, and history. Whether you encounter it at a...
A Taste of Tradition: The Magic of Picadillo de Papa
Picadillo de Papa – Savoury Potato Hash There are few dishes that capture the heart of Costa Rican home cooking like Picadillo de Papa. This comforting blend of potatoes, ground beef, and vegetables is more than just a meal—it’s a beloved tradition passed down through...
