My wife and I are vacationing in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rico next week and thought it might be fun to bring back some ingredients for brewing. I know I can get cacoa and coffee. Does anyone have any other suggestions for exotic or interesting finds?
Costa Rican Ingredient Hunt
- Thread starter pickles
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Sorry from my end.... I am too new to this to really know what you can and cannot use, I also do not know what would be available in Costa Rica except bananas. Would they work in a beer?
Though I'd post even though I have no info since you had no responses...
Though I'd post even though I have no info since you had no responses...
KingBrianI
Well-Known Member
Never been to costa rica but I was just in St. Lucia which is fairly close. They sold spice packs there to make your own spiced rum that could also make a nice spiced beer. There were all kinds of different spices and plants in those packs, many you wouldn't be able to find back in the states. There are probably similar packs at the touristy markets in costa rica.
Speaking of rum, if you find that you like one down there, bring back as much of it as you can. I stupidly only brought back one bottle of my favorite rum in St. Lucia, and now I'm wishing I had more. It's so cheap there but you can't find it up here for any amount of money.
Have a great time down there! My advice, try the beer but then move on to what they're good at, rum. The beer is pretty indisinguishable from any macro lager, but the rum is awesome. At least that was my experience in St. Lucia. Be sure to try the local spiced rums, they vary from place to place, and can be really good.
Speaking of rum, if you find that you like one down there, bring back as much of it as you can. I stupidly only brought back one bottle of my favorite rum in St. Lucia, and now I'm wishing I had more. It's so cheap there but you can't find it up here for any amount of money.
Have a great time down there! My advice, try the beer but then move on to what they're good at, rum. The beer is pretty indisinguishable from any macro lager, but the rum is awesome. At least that was my experience in St. Lucia. Be sure to try the local spiced rums, they vary from place to place, and can be really good.
Vance71975
Well-Known Member
You may have a serious customs problem if you try, i would check with a customs agent before buying anything,as it is often illegal to bring back anything that could be considered a "food product" from a another country.
LVBen
Well-Known Member
I love Costa Rica, but with modern shipping, I'm not sure that there is anything worth getting that you can't already get in the U.S.
There are slightly different varieties of fruits available that are not available in the U.S., but if you fly back through somewhere like Miami then you can't bring fruit with you.
LVBen
Well-Known Member
There are several types of foods that you can bring back, but many of them must be declared at customs and you will likely have to answer questions about what you have and/or have your luggage searched.
Vance71975
Well-Known Member
Ya just thought i would throw it out there, better safe than sorry, if you ask a customs agent ahead of time then you dont buy something you cant bring back!:rockin:
Look for spices, Regional versions of unrefined sugars like (Jaggery/Turbinado), dried fruits, unusual candies (again fermentable sugars,) Regional versions of Natural Syrups (agave, treacle, jamaican burnt sugar, lyles Golden, fruit syrup.)
Find out what is used in regional beverages, alcoholic and not and get some of that.
If it is fermentable, or can flavor or lend aroma to a fermentable, and you can't get it in your local kroger's then you got something useful. Anything used in baking or candy/desert making especially.
Don't rule out rices, grains and herbs as well.
Just go into any bodega or mercado and walk around, you'll find stuff.
Find out what is used in regional beverages, alcoholic and not and get some of that.
If it is fermentable, or can flavor or lend aroma to a fermentable, and you can't get it in your local kroger's then you got something useful. Anything used in baking or candy/desert making especially.
Don't rule out rices, grains and herbs as well.
Just go into any bodega or mercado and walk around, you'll find stuff.
For example I just googled "Costa Rican Syrups" and Kola Syrup "Cruz Blanca" popped up.
Also don't forget to look at starches as well, do a little digging into costa rican cuisine ahead of time, then find out if any of that can be converted. For example google tells me that in CR they make Chicha with manioc root (also called yuca or cassava.) It woudl be interesting to try a cereal mash with some yucca flour for example and add it to a beer. Or do a variation of chicha
.
Also don't forget to look at starches as well, do a little digging into costa rican cuisine ahead of time, then find out if any of that can be converted. For example google tells me that in CR they make Chicha with manioc root (also called yuca or cassava.) It woudl be interesting to try a cereal mash with some yucca flour for example and add it to a beer. Or do a variation of chicha
.
Here's some info on beverages that again you ideas for possible ingredients. Found this on wikipedia.
I hilighted a couple,
I hilighted a couple,
Went to costa rica for my honeymoon back in January. Just an fyi, costa rica exports all its best fruits and coffee to... anyone, anyone... to the good ole USA. I would look for spices before trying to buy coffee and fruit. Chances are we already have their coffee and fruit.
terrapinj
Well-Known Member
you prob won't find too much rare and exotic stuff in puerto viejo like you would in a large city market but - fairly small beach community
i highly suggest the whole red snapper and coconut rice there though
also if you have time and enjoy reading grab In Search of Captain Zero - pretty good read about a guy who chases an old friend down through Mexico and ends up there - Captain Zero supposedly still lives down there, at least we met someone claiming to be him
have fun
Pura Vida!
i highly suggest the whole red snapper and coconut rice there though
also if you have time and enjoy reading grab In Search of Captain Zero - pretty good read about a guy who chases an old friend down through Mexico and ends up there - Captain Zero supposedly still lives down there, at least we met someone claiming to be him
have fun
Pura Vida!
It is probably too late for your trip but I thought I can reply and that could help someone else.
Of course there is a lot ingredients to try. I dont know about issues with customs in the USA.. I travel frequenly and ussually as long as it is sealed package there is no issue if quantities are small... meat and plants can be more complicated.
Anyway, I'm Costa Rican and a homebrewer (and we are very very few) my good friend Joe just gave me the other day a Stout with cocoa grains stepped in Guaro and tapa dulce. I like it...
Of course there is a lot ingredients to try. I dont know about issues with customs in the USA.. I travel frequenly and ussually as long as it is sealed package there is no issue if quantities are small... meat and plants can be more complicated.
Anyway, I'm Costa Rican and a homebrewer (and we are very very few) my good friend Joe just gave me the other day a Stout with cocoa grains stepped in Guaro and tapa dulce. I like it...
OP
OP
pickles
Well-Known Member
Yeah my trip is over, and may I say that you have an incredible country! We had a fantastic time. We rafted the Paquare, went deep sea fishing, skimmed the rain forest canopy via zip line, and drank more Imperial than I care to remember. I had the opportunity to eat raw cocoa bean slime out of a cocoa fruit "pod"??, not sure what it was but it was offered to us by an indigineous man while eating lunch on our rafting trip. All I brought back for brewing was a crap ton (actual measurement) of coffee. BTW, the night before we left we stayed at the Dunn Inn in San Jose and that place f***ing rocked!
caribbeanbrewguy
New Member
While your in Puerto Viejo, stop by The POINT SPORTS BAR AND GRILL to try Costa Rica Craft Brewery micro beers. We offer a tropical golden ale and a red ale. Ask for Toby, I'm the owner.
Cheers.
Cheers.
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