Costa Rica has their traditional tamales, a delicious taste in December. Generally, families make them before Christmas celebrations to share with friends and close family. Tamales are eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Costa Rican tamale is a bit of cooked masa which is corn base dough steamed in banana leaves. This corn masa has fillings such as yellow rice, chickpeas, potatoes, pork or chicken, vegetables and sometimes they have something sweet like raises or prunes.
The process of making tamales is often a communal activity involving family and friends. It’s common for people to gather to prepare large quantities of tamales, which are then shared and enjoyed throughout December.
Each participant is awarded at the end of the day with a warm tamale with coffee or sweet water called “Agua Dulce”. This tradition is an integral part of Costa Rican Christmas celebrations.