Traditional Guatemalan Foods and Drinks

TORTILLAS, TORTILLAS, TORTILLAS! BEANS, BEANS, BEANS!

My host Mom making tortillas over a fire (the pressure cooker to the right is cooking beans)

Pepian - A MUST TRY FOR ANYONE VISITING GUATEMALA. My favorite Guatemalan dish. Pepian is a flavorful stew with meat, tomatoes, vegetables, ground seeds, cacao, cinnamon, and spices.

Jocom: A traditional dish from the department of Suchitepéquez that has a base of herbs.

Subanik: A traditional dish of the Kaqchikeles (a Mayan group) with a base of seeds, cinnamon and cloves.

Fiambre is a traditional dish made for All Saints Day (November 1st). It is a cold antipasto-like salad that can be made from over 50 ingredients. Families usually have their own versions of Fiambre, but ingredients can include: meats including cold cuts, pickled vegetables, beets, cheeses, olives, eggs, corn, and radishes. 

Platanos rellenos - plantains stuffed with pureed black beans, fried, and topped with sour cream and sugar. A great snack!

As for beverages, coffee, hibiscus flower juice, and hot chocolate are the most common.
- Although Guatemala exports great coffee, much of the coffee that I have seen and have been offered in Guatemala more closely resembles brown sugar water. Nescafe instant coffee is often used and there is always A LOT of sugar added. I couldn't figure out why instant coffee was used when they produce so much great coffee, but one host family member explained that instant coffee was fancier because it was easier to make (they do have a point there).
- Rosa de Jamaica: Jamaica is pronounced (Ha-my-ka) not like the country. Hibiscus juice.
- Hot chocolate: Chocolate in Guatemala is traditionally drank instead of eaten. I took an informative and delicious chocolate class in Antigua.

I have also written blog posts on a number of other Guatemalan foods such as: paches, selling tortillas outside of fast food restaurants, tamalitos, black salt, and Fiambre for All Saints Day.