• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home In Focus: Panama

Summer In Panama Is A Tropical Fruit Lover’s Paradise

Summer In Panama: A Garden Of Tropical Delicacies

Rebecca Teeters by Rebecca Teeters
Mar 22, 2018
in In Focus: Panama
0 0
0
a market stall selling tropical fruits. for sale are lemons bananas limes apples and more
358
SHARES
5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

At this moment, most of North America and Europe are merely dreaming about warm temperatures and the tasty treats of summer. Here in Panama it is summer. Yes, it arrived a little late this year… but the rain has gone and here we are.

Many people think of the tropics as the land of perpetual summer, but that’s not exactly the case. Here in Panama, people refer to the rainy season (the second half of the year) as winter and the dry season (usually starting in December and lasting until April) as summer. This is also the time when an abundance of unique fruits make their way to the produce market.

close up picture of a watermelon

Postcards depict fresh-cracked coconuts and juicy chunks of pineapple adorning the rims of umbrella drinks, but what Panama really has to offer is a summer basket of fruit, ranging from the sweetsandía(watermelon) to the mind-bogglingmaracuyá(passion fruit).

Some of these amazing fruits are perfect right off the tree. Avocados are just starting to hit the market, while papayas flourish endlessly. Mango trees are flowering and preparing to inundate the countryside with their syrupy-sweet magnificence. Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes… take your pick! In summer Panama is a tropical garden paradise.

close up picture of a tropical fruit on the tree

Other tasty treats require a bit more effort to enjoy. Themarañón, for instance, delivers a one-two punch: You could poke some holes in the fruit itself and squeeze until you’re left with a glass of fresh juice. You could also remove the nut off the top, roast it, and enjoy fresh cashews.

Pixbae(also known aspifáorpibá)is the underrated fruit of the palm tree. Growing in large clumps just below the palm leaves, this savory fruit is perfect for making wine, jelly, and oil (although this is a factory process), or just boiling and eating with salt.

If you plan to visit or live in the highlands of Chiriquí, be on the lookout for fresh strawberries. They are a delicacy in areas such as Boquete and Volcán, although they are sold throughout the country.

To access the same variety of agricultural wonder in the States, you’d have to travel from Florida to California and back to Virginia, and still, you wouldn’t be able find everything Panama has on offer. For a country the size of Maine (a state that grows blueberries and not much else), the selection here is truly astounding.

close up picture of a lychee

The Spanish names for all these fruits allude to the exoticness of their flavors. Themamón chinois not unlike the lychee: It is small, red, and hairy with a white, fleshy interior. You crack open the outer skin (with your teeth if you’re a true fruit enthusiast) and suck on the tangy sweet inside until you hit the stone.

close up picture of guanábana, a tropical fruit

Theguanábana(or soursop) is another local favorite in Panama. This spiky, odd-looking green mass hides a strikingly sweet surprise. Enjoy it straight from the tree, watching out for seeds, or get creative and makeguanábanajuice or ice cream.

a noni fruit in panama

If you want to try one the latest health crazes, grab a noni fruit. It looks similar to a grub worm, and many locals believe it to be poisonous, but don’t be put off. Its high levels of vitamin C, niacin, iron, and potassium are health qualities you shouldn’t ignore.

Any discussion about fruit in Panama would be incomplete without bringing bananas into the conversation. Hanging low in large bunches, they slowly turn from green to their iconic yellow. Bananas are truly a staple of life here… only to be outdone by their close relative theplátano(plantain).

fried Plátanos served with cheese and chutney

Plátanosare the harder, more savory twist on the classic yellow banana. They are served with almost every meal not only in Panama but across Central America. The most popular method of cooking involves frying them, squishing them into chunks, and then frying again to makepatacones. Thetajadais similar, but is more thinly sliced, similar to a chip. You can also enjoy the super-ripe plantain as a sweet desert.

By now, your mouth might be watering and you’re curious to know where you can find all these wonderful fruits… The answer is Panama’s vast and various markets, located throughout the country.

Panama’s most popular market among expats is without a doubt the farmers’ market in Boquete. However, you need not go all the way to the highlands to get your hands on nature’s bounty.

Panama City has several markets. The largest is the Mercado de Abastos, which is a wholesale market that provides produce to many restaurants and grocery stores. Trucks start rolling in early in the morning, so wake up early to get the best of what’s on offer that day.

fruit market El Valle de Antón

If the enormity of this market isn’t your style, try that of El Valle de Antón. Sunday is the most popular day for shopping there, but it is open seven days a week and offers a nice variety of produce in a more relaxed setting.

Markets can be entertaining—they are bustling with locals and expats alike. The sheer quantity of produce on offer is unbeatable, but accessing it involves some savvy maneuvering.

Many small towns such as Puerto Armuelles don’t have true markets; instead, individual vendors park their trucks at locations around town and set up shop for the day. The quantity is less but the produce is local, and you have more time to peruse each and every pineapple without competition from other customers.

truck load of bananas panama

Panama is home to a variety of unique fruit but is also home to thevendedores ambulantes. This is the most convenient way to purchase your summer treats. If you keep your eyes and ears open in just about every city, town, orpuebloin Panama, eventually you will hear the low growl of a megaphone.

Grab your cash and head out your front door.Vendedores ambulantesare mobile fruit and vegetable stands, stocked with all your basics and maybe something new. They usually have a scale hanging off the back of the truck just waiting for you to make your selections.

If you still have not found the object of your taste buds’ desires, you have a few other options for finding fresh fruit. Wander around. This may seem silly, but more often than not you’ll find a man sitting on the street corner selling blackberries. Or, you will see a woman in front of the bus stop with a sack of rose apples.

These vendors may not have the quantity or means to make it to the markets, but there is no reason to shy away from them. They will give you reasonable prices and let you pick the best of their selection.

If you are roaming the jungle or driving on the back roads, you’ll likely spot a number of interesting fruit hanging from sagging tree branches. Grab an armful, but double-check with a local before biting into anything unrecognizable.

Whether you shop at the market, go for a hike, or grab something off the tree in your front yard, you have a plethora of options of what to do with this yummy good stuff. Some locals eat it raw; some juice it adding sugar and water; and some make popsicles in little plastic bags. Any way… it tastes delicious!

Although it is hard to beat a refreshing pitcher of tangylimonada(lemonade), don’t limit yourself to only juicing your fruits. One expat I know makes a wonderful chutney in mango season and another who makes fruit soda with whatever’s at the market.

Papaya muffins, banana-chocolate bread, and mango barbecue sauce are other favorites. If you are looking to impress your local neighbors, your host, or a friend, baked goods are the way to go as many Panamanians don’t use ovens. You’re guaranteed to make an impression.

Panama is overflowing with fruit and those looking to live in a garden of tropical delicacies will not be disappointed. A wide range is available, from normal everyday items to the truly unique and endemic to the Isthmus. With an abundance of citrus and plenty of sweet treats, there is something to suit every palate.

Summer is the season for fruit in Panama… You have until the rains come to sample the selection.

Rebecca Teeters

Tags: Panama
Share149Tweet87
Rebecca Teeters

Rebecca Teeters

Rebecca Teeters is a freelance writer who spent many years in New Orleans, Louisiana, before catching the travel bug. After four years in Nicaragua and a solo drive through Central America, she has finally put down roots in the small beach town of Puerto Armuelles, Panama, where she enjoys learning about the local culture and blogging about those lessons.

Related Posts

Beautiful scenery of the waves of the ocean moving towards the shore in Santa Catalina, Panama
In Focus: Panama

The Best Unspoiled Beaches In Panama Compared

by Rebecca Teeters
March 22, 2023
0

The waves roll in over white-sand beaches as palm trees sway overhead… The sun shines down on you as the...

Read more
Horizontal view of coast and beach of Isla Taboga, Panama City, Panama

Cerrito Tropical In Taboga, Panama: An Expat’s Success Story

February 16, 2023
Palm trees, sea and houses in Isla Grande shore. Colon province, Panama 

A Beach Adventure In Panama To Start 2023

January 5, 2023
Typical foods eaten for Christmas and New Year Eve in Panama

Christmas Eve Dinner In Panama: A Rundown For Expats

December 22, 2022
Christmas Holiday Scene in Panama City, Panama

Celebrating A Palm Tree Christmas In Panama

December 8, 2022
Girl from El Cuarto Rojo doing aerial suspension

Panama’s Art Scene Is Being Disrupted. Here’s All About It

November 10, 2022
Man surfing in Playa Venao, Panama

Panama’s 6 Top Spots For Surfing

November 4, 2022

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas ...

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2023

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Download your FREE report on

The Best Places To Retire In 2023

New Year, New You, New Life Overseas

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​​PANAMA and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: ​Panama ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.