Here are your Spanish words of the day: Mangostán, mangostino, mangostín and mangosto are variations for Mangosteen. The Times They Are A-Changin’ —Bob Dylan A few years ago I shared a post about salty granizadas [shaved ice] and many Guatemalans living abroad complained that when they grew up in Guatemala they never knew about salty … Read more
Chico Zapote or simply chico which in English is known as Sapodilla is a popular fruit in Guatemala. From the sap of Chico Zapote tree is produced the natural chewing gum known as chicle. Oh how I enjoy inflicting nostalgic pinches to the Guatemalans living abroad! 😉 When was the last time you had chico … Read more
Guatemala and Mexico are the birth places for the delicious avocado fruit. Avocado Trivia 1: The word avocado comes from the the Spanish word aguacate which in turn comes from the Mexican Nahuatl language word ahuacacuauhitl, which means testicle tree. Avocado in Maya is on and palta en Quechua. Source: UC Davis. Avocado Trivia 2: … Read more
We are so lucky in Guatemala that we can have fresh fruit every day of the year. Often times the fruit has been harvested the day before. I have mentioned before that La Antigua Guatemala is strategically located between exuberant low coastal lands and the highlands, each within a couple of hours from Antigua Guatemala, … Read more
These are the hands the rock the coffee berries off the branches swiftly, almost effortlessly it seemed. There’s something about these hands that moves me . What kind of stories are behind these hands? What life have they lived?
A few days ago Susanita was asking herself about rambutan and loquats tropical fruits. Rambutan, or licha as it is known in Guatemala, is a red, plum-sized tropical fruit with soft spines and a slightly acidic taste. Lichas are now a staple of the mercados in Guatemala. Lichas (rambutan) are new comers and that’s why … Read more
Okay, we will finish the Zapote and other exotic tropical fruits from Guatemala week with the Chico Zapote or simply chico which in English is known as Sapodilla. The flavor of Chico Zapote is exceptionally sweet and very tasty, with what can be described as a malty flavor. The unripe fruit is hard to the … Read more
Guatemalan produces several kinds of mangoes (dozens really), but by far mango de pashte (loofah mango) or mango de leche (milk mango) as it also known, is considered the best by the majority of Guatemalans. Interesting enough, I had never had mango de pashte outside the Guatemalan borders. I don’t know if the other mango-producing … Read more
Even though most people are familiar with cashew nuts (I think), I am almost sure many people do not have the slightest idea about the fruit that produces the cashew nuts. Well there you have it, the jocote de marañón or cashew mombin or as Javier calls it, cashew apple. Although I think the word … Read more
I tell you, those Costa Ricans have no shame. First they made the entire world believe that Central America was them. Then, they passed some funky and colorful looking bird as Guatemala’s own Quetzal. Costa Ricans are now working in their coffee campaign and trying very hard to convince the world about the high quality … Read more
Many were the contributions of Meso-America to the world in terms of brand-new dietary crops; so long is the list that one can not imagine a world without such staples like maize (corn), tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, tomatillo, beans, red hot chili peppers [not the rock band ;-)], et-cetera. Some crops from Meso-America, however, … Read more
Okay everyone, I solemnly declare this week as the Zapotes (sapotes) and other such exotic tropical fruits week. Sapote or tzapotl is a Nahuatl language word for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America. … Read more