There are many sweet and savory foods and snacks which hold a special place in the heart of the Colombian people. When returning home to visit family, Colombians living overseas will make sure to stock up on Chocoramos, get some Bon Bon Bums, a few jars of arequipe and the all important Colombian arepa ingredients.
In this article I will talk you through the most popular of the many new products you will find in a Colombian supermarket, give some insight into what they taste like and why they are so beloved.
I have lived in Colombia for 15 years and I love showing visiting friends and families some of the unique flavors in my adopted country.
1) Chocoramo
A Chocoramos is a chocolate covered, soft vanilla pound cake which dates back to the 1950s.
They are classic lunchbox fillers and are held in high esteem by Colombians around the world who associate them with happy childhood experiences. You can’t really go wrong with a Chocoramo, they are simple, tasty and consistently good.
Wash it down with a cheesy hot chocolate for a nice evening snack. You can find them everywhere and they cost around US$0.50.
2) Bon Bon Bum
These are sweet, fruity lollipops which have chewing gum inside, think Chupa Chups if you are from the UK.
Strawberry is the classic flavor, and probably my favorite, but they also have mango, mandarine, passion fruit and the Colombian fruit lulo which has a flavor mixing kiwi, citrus, and pineapple.
When I first visited Colombia in 2008 I had 20,000 COP left over in cash and decided to buy a bag of Bon Bon Bum which I ended up chainsucking all the way home – they are very sugary, very tasty and very addictive.
You can buy them anywhere and they cost just a few cents.
3) Quipitos
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Quipitos is a type of popping candy which was launched back in 1983. Made with powdered milk, it has a unique flavor which sparked the marketing tagline “do you know what flavor is Quipitos?”.
Another childhood favorite, you can get a small bag in the supermarket or a local store for 2,500 COP (US$0.50).
4) Choclitos
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These delicious corn strips have a strong lemon flavor and are made with sunflower oil. They are similar to chips but have a particularly crunchy texture.
You can buy them all over Colombia and they cost just over 7,000 COP (US$1.75) for a fairly large bag.
5) Bocadilla
A bocadilla is a guava jelly snack made from guava pulp and panela. Velez, a town in the Santander region of Colombia, is a major center of production and in 2006 the snack was named a cultural symbol of the country.
The sweet snack is traditionally wrapped in a bija leaf to preserve and enhance flavor before it is sold. You can eat it as it is or spread it over bread or enjoy it with cheese.
You can buy in most stores and they cost 9,000 COP for 414 grams worth in Exito supermarket.
6) Platanitos
Plantain is a hugely important staple in many Colombian dishes and is up there with arepa and rice for the most consumed food. Platanitos are a healthier, tasty alternative to potato chips which are made from plantain and are lightly salted.
They are good and definitely feel less heavy then traditional chips but are still filling with more nutritional value. They are a great source of fiber and other nutrients like potassium and sodium, with vitamins A and C.
You can get a bag in any supermarket and they cost around 12,000 COP (US$3) for 250 grams.
7) Rosquillas de Queso
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Rosquillas are a popular Colombian bar snack which are donut shaped, baked and flavored with cheese.
Colombian bars have had the genius idea of ensuring their visitors are given ample dry, savory, addictive snacks alongside their bottles of alcohol which seems to remarkably result in increased drinks sales.
Rosquillas are a tasty and healthier alternative to potato chips and available everywhere for a dollar or so.
8) Supercoco
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Supercoco is a coconut sweet which was first launched in 1948 in Cartagena. Today they sell over 22 million per month with the candy sold in 15 South American countries.
They are sold in bright green and yellow bags with individually wrapped sweets inside. You can find them in neighborhood stores or supermarkets.
9) Yupi Tozinetas Fred
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Tozinetas are puffy, bacon flavored potato chips which are a delicious snack option. You can eat them as they are or dip them into onion or honey dip.
They are made by Yupi, a Colombian company which has been making snacks for over 40 years. You can find Tozinetas in stores and supermarkets all over the country for 5,800 COP (US$1.50).
10) Archiras
Archiras are traditional Colombian biscuits made from achira flour rather than wheat flour.
They are most produced and synonymous with the Huila region of Colombia with a golden yellow color. They have the taste of milk and they melt in your mouth, making them perfect with a coffee or a hot chocolate.
You can find them in stores or supermarkets with 6 small bags costing around 10,000 COP (US$2.50).
11) Bianchi
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Bianchis are small caramel sweets filled with milk or white chocolate. They are similar to Cadbury Eclairs from the UK for those who are familiar.
The chocolate in the center works very well with the chewy caramel outer shell to leave a great experience when you bite into them. You can buy a bag of 100 small Bianchis at supermarkets for around US$2.50.
12) Jet Chocolate Bar
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Jet chocolate is the most popular in the country with the small bars first released in 1961 by Compañía Nacional de Chocolates Cruz Roja, a company that dates back to the 1920s.
From 1968 they have always included stickers celebrating the nature of Colombia with an album that can be filled. The blue milk chocolate bar is the most famous and popular but they now also have strawberry and cream, bubbly chocolate, wrapped chocolate balls, wafer chocolate bar, cookies and cream, crunchy bars, ice cream and spreadable chocolate.
I don’t personally think it tastes that great but many Colombians love it and the small bars make a tasty treat for children. You can find Jet anywhere that sells snacks, go for the blue original and you can get 12 small bars for 8,000 COP (US$2).
13) Arepas
Arepas are probably the defining food of Colombia. Every region of the country has a slight variant. In some parts it is predominant a breakfast food, other areas have them as snacks, they can be a side dish for lunch and for some they are a smaller evening meal.
Arepas come in all shapes and sizes but they are everywhere and beloved by Colombians.
They are similar to tortillas made with pre-cooked corn dough or flour then formed into a circle. You can grill, fry or roast them. In some regions they are filled with minced meat, egg or cheese so they can be enjoyed as a stand alone snack.
The paisa arepa is flat and white for maximum versatility, in Boyacá they come filled with vegetables, in the coast often with egg cooked inside, in Santander they are thicker and firmer while in Valle de Cauca they are thick and soft, perfect to be barbecued.
You can buy arepas in supermarkets or you can buy the flour to make them when you get home.
14) Galletas Festival
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Festivals are a range of small cookies that have two layers that are filled in the middle with flavored cream, very similar to a custard cream or quite like an oreo.
You can get strawberry cream, vanilla cream, lemon cream, coconut cream or a chocolate cookie with vanilla creme. They also have a variant called recreo which is almost identical to an Oreo.
You can get 12 packets with 4 cookies each for 10,200 COP (US$2.60).
15) Gol Chocolate Bar
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Gol is another chocolate bar which only costs 1,500 COP (US$0.40). They have a range of flavors with chocolate, caramel, crunchy rice, nuts and almonds on top of a wafer base.
You can find these at any supermarket or local store around Colombia.
16) Arequipe
Arequipe, also known as dulce de leche elsewhere in Latin America or confiture de lait in France, is a sweet paste which is quite similar to caramel. It is made by slowly heating sugar and milk over a number of hours.
It is used to add a sweet taste and to give added flavor to dishes. You can use it on ice cream, muffins, cakes and sweet pies, for example.
You can buy arequipe in any supermarket and a 250 gram jar costs 5,500 COP (US$1.40.
17) Obleas
Once you have the arequipe you surely can’t go home without also picking up some obleas.
Obleas are fairly large, round, flat waffles which can be used as the bread equivalent in a sweet, tasty sandwich. Arequipe is a staple ingredient but then you can add a mix of blackberry sauce, fruits, ice cream, condensed milk and grated cheese (Colombians love combining cheese with sweet things).
Obleas are available everywhere, you can pick up a packet of 8 at any supermarket for about 8,000 COP (US$2).
18) Sparkies
Sparkies are chewy caramel candies that come in fruit flavored shells, similar to Skittles although they are a little smaller. You can get them in orange, lemon, strawberry, banana, cherry and grape.
While the packets are very small, they do have very strong, distinct flavors which really leave an impact. They are popular children’s snacks and often found at birthday parties or other celebrations.
You can get a small bag at the store or next to the checkout of a supermarket for less than 2,000 COP (US$0.50).
19) Manimoto
Mani Moto is a very popular Japanese-style peanut snack available in Colombia.
They have a crunchy shell made from flour and then inside is a lightly salted peanut. It is simple but delicious and incredibly moorish. Another excellent bar snack, they can be quite tough to bite into but are well worth it.
These are available everywhere from supermarkets to street vendors for just a couple of dollars.
20) Tipitin
Over 30 years ago Copelia sweets were developed by a couple of brothers who won fame and recognition for the snacks on offer at their local coffee shop.
The sweet treats made of fresh coconut and caramel are now popular across the country and an excellent option to bring back for family and friends. They are best enjoyed with tea, coffee, hot chocolate or a glass of milk.
You can find them on sale individually for 500 COP (US$0.15) with charming packaging.