Even before the Spanish conquest, Panama was home to various indigenous tribes whose diets were based on corn, squash, otoe, among other products.
A bit of history
They also hunted deer and other animals for meat. Some tribes even consumed plantains and tubers, forming a wide variety in their daily diet.
With the arrival of the Spaniards in Panamanian territory, other products were introduced that forever changed the native diet.
On one hand, they began to popularize corn and abandoned many other products. They also brought cattle to their crews, thus modifying Panama's economy and ecosystem.
Meat and Spices
Besides beef, Spanish culture introduced other products such as olive oil, chicken, eggs, pork, milk, and cheese. Some typical Panamanian foods influenced by Spain include chorizo, chicharrón, beef soup, empanada, and lechona.
All these dishes are prepared with beef and pork, two animals native to European regions.
Centuries after the Spanish conquest, Chinese immigrants arrived in Panama, working on the construction of the railroad, which according to some sources, began in 1850.
Like the Spaniards, the Chinese also brought their products and influenced Panamanian cuisine. One of these products is rice, which was already highly consumed by Europeans and other regions of the Americas at that time.
When the railroad was completed, many Chinese decided to stay in the country and opened restaurants. This is why, especially in the capital, Chinese restaurants predominate. While they offer traditional Asian dishes, they also contributed to the modifications of local dishes by introducing, mainly, rice.
The Delicious Rice
Among the typical dishes of Panamanian cuisine based on rice are chicken with rice, pigeon pea rice, seafood rice, green rice, pork and vegetable rice, sausage rice, sweet Andes rice, fututiao rice, rice with sausage, rice guacho, rice with sweetbreads, rice pudding, and pineapple rice.
As seen, this product originating from Asia is very diverse, not only eaten during lunch but also as a dessert or as a complement to other dishes.
Today, rice is considered one of the most consumed products in Panama, along with corn and tubers.
French Influence
In addition to Spanish and Chinese influences, Panama's culture was also influenced by the French, who arrived in 1880 with the goal of building an interoceanic canal. They brought workers from the Caribbean. Many of them remained in Panama and influenced its gastronomy entirely.
The products they brought that influenced Panamanian cuisine include curry, ginger, cinnamon, and clove. These added delicate flavors to Panamanian dishes, resulting in exquisite dishes like pickled fish, ceviche, coconut rice, and seafood guacho.
Since the French abandoned the canal project for various reasons, the Americans had to step in. They arrived in 1900 and completed the Panama Canal. They not only facilitated the linking of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans but also attracted travelers, tourists, and merchants from different countries, further influencing Panamanian cuisine, making it even more diverse and culturally rich.
The Americans established various gastronomic franchises in the country and also popularized coffee consumption, replacing chocolate, which was the most consumed drink during colonial times. During canal construction, seafood, lobsters, octopus, and fish became more popular, leading to dishes such as seafood soup, rondón, and fish head soup.
Over the centuries, Panamanian cuisine has evolved and varied through cultural interactions. The coexistence of different cultures often modifies ingredients by adding or replacing products, not only through conquest but also through immigration and international projects that contribute both physically and culturally, creating new traditions and daily life experiences.
