last weekend, while i was sipping abuelo, and awaiting final judgment on my balcony, alex returned to her family in arrijan to celebrate semana santa (easter week). traditionally, all work stops at this time of year. panama city becomes a ghost town. churches fill up with the faithful. there are even painful reenactments of christ’s crucifixion in the streets. almost everyone returns home to commune with their families, feast, and chat with someone called dios.
i don’t know what this dios character said to alex, but when she finally came back, she was proudly carrying a large container of chicheme. she said she picked it up for me in chorrera, at el chimchemito, a fonda (small store) that’s locally famous for selling comidas tipico (native dishes).
never heard of chicheme? chicheme’s a beverage made by pounding, and then soaking maize (corn) overnight. then it’s cooked until soft. boiled milk is added. the mixture’s allowed to cool, and finally, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, or cane sugar are thrown in.
chicheme a lumpy drink. it has the same consistency of cold corn chowder. that might seem off putting. it was for me. but then i asked myself - what would jesus do? he try it of course. you should too. it won’t resurrect the dead, but i assure you, it tastes fantastic. chicheme’s a meal in a glass. and it costs only 75 cents.
bonus tip - i think i’ve created a new drink. i’ve discovered chicheme’s good with a little rum added. i think i’ll call it the cojito. and it’s just the thing after you’ve spent a hot day watching jesus get flogged in the streets. just remember to stock up on booze before the stores close for semana santa.
Chicheme is an excellent drink on a hot afternoon. Yes, the lumpiness kind of put me off at first, but the taste makes up for it. We’d always stop at Queso Chela or Queso Mili on our way to the interior.
Panama has a lot of tastes and flavors almost unknown to NorteAmericanos - nance, guanabana (sp?), chicha fuerte, maricuya, tamarindo, etc.
Agua de pipa con seco es un bebida excellente, pero muy peligroso.
Comment by Patriccio — April 13, 2007 @ 5:31 am
¡Ay, tamarindo! Me gusta mucho tamarindo pero es un poco dificil para obtener aqui en “the great white north”.
Comment by lakesdiver — April 13, 2007 @ 8:24 am
There are quite a few chichas that are good with some rum in them. My favorite might be guayaba or guayaba pina. Maracuya is good too. With some vodka it is even better. If you haven’t had chicha avena that is really good. Homemade is much better than the version they sell in the boxes with the little carrizos attached. Arroz con pina is another good one. Granadilla is good but hard to find.
My favorites are my own invention. I use dark rum, coffee, sugar and vanilla. Let it all stew for a day then strain it, and add it to some cold milk. I drink that so when I get drunk I will stay awake. I have a version with chocolate instead of coffee that I save for “special” occasions.
Comment by vieja — April 13, 2007 @ 11:32 am
vieja - i’ve been meaning to try chicha avena next. but, your homemade coffee and rum mix sounds fantastic.
Comment by cojito — April 14, 2007 @ 11:23 am
How could I forget chicha avena? Wow, that stuff is good.
Comment by Patriccio — April 14, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Does anyone have an authetic Chicha de Avena recipe from Panama?
Comment by Bethany — July 9, 2008 @ 9:59 am