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.
