P’tites Annonces · Costa RicaCosta Rica

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This Central American country links the Pacific and Caribbean Sea. Volcanoes, forests and plantations shape its landscapes; farming traditions, Indigenous communities and Afro-Caribbean cultures enrich everyday meals, local skills and the different ways ingredients are prepared. The painted traditional ox cart symbolises agricultural and craft heritage: its decoration turns a transport tool into an object of cultural memory. Volcanoes such as Arenal and tropical forests provide other landmarks connected with varied natural environments. Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean community traditions broaden the picture beyond its best-known scenery. Gallo pinto combines rice and beans, with preparation and accompaniments differing between households. Coffee connects the highlands with the skills of cultivation and roasting. Tropical fruit, vegetables and fish complement meals according to the region. Caribbean coastal kitchens have particular influences of their own. Markets and everyday cooking bring agriculture, exchange and conviviality together in this territory between two seas. These food practices offer a closer view of local life than landscape symbols alone.