What's the food like in the markets in Panama?
Judith Tovar - Easy Travel Panama
The food in the supermarkets in Panama is wonderful. You can practically find everything you need or are used to from your supermarkets in the United States.
Besides..in Panama you can get the most wonderful, fresh, vegetables, fruit....grown here locally and delicious.
Panama means "Abundance of Fish" so if you like seafood...you will feel in Heaven in Panama.
The food in the supermarkets in Panama is wonderful. You can practically find everything you need or are used to from your supermarkets in the United States.
Besides..in Panama you can get the most wonderful, fresh, vegetables, fruit....grown here locally and delicious.
Panama means "Abundance of Fish" so if you like seafood...you will feel in Heaven in Panama.
Posted March 14, 2013
Lourdes Townshend
There are two kinds of markets in Panamá: the regular supermarkets, or grocery shops, and the public markets, or "ferias" . Recently, the government established public places where people can get all kinds of groceries, including poultry, beef, chicken, dry groceries, and grains among others, at a very popular prices. For example: a 20 pound bag of white rice sells for $6.50.
There are also the wholesale vegetables and...
There are two kinds of markets in Panamá: the regular supermarkets, or grocery shops, and the public markets, or "ferias" . Recently, the government established public places where people can get all kinds of groceries, including poultry, beef, chicken, dry groceries, and grains among others, at a very popular prices. For example: a 20 pound bag of white rice sells for $6.50.
There are also the wholesale vegetables and fruit market, where stores and the general public can purchase their groceries at a third, or less, of the regular price.
And of course, the modern supermarkets, which you can find all across the country, where the best goods from around the world are available, as well as local products.
Posted October 4, 2013
Barbara Socarraz
I live in David (the second largest city in Panama and less than an hour from Boquete and Volcan) and I have found the grocery stores to be comparable to those in the states. Things like cheeses, chips and spices are more expensive and at times harder to find, but, then again, you have to take into consideration what in included and deemed important to the Panamanian people and their diets. There are butcher shops around town so if you are looking to order...
I live in David (the second largest city in Panama and less than an hour from Boquete and Volcan) and I have found the grocery stores to be comparable to those in the states. Things like cheeses, chips and spices are more expensive and at times harder to find, but, then again, you have to take into consideration what in included and deemed important to the Panamanian people and their diets. There are butcher shops around town so if you are looking to order some special cut of meat, you can always go to one of them. There is a Price Smart in town too. This is like a mini Costco.
(Pictured: Kids of Learn and Grow, which is supported by Price Philanthropies.)
Posted October 8, 2013
Moises Montero Randino - Montero Randino - Attorneys at Law
The food in the markets in Panama is great! You will find a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at very cheap prices compared to most countries. Organic food is having an important impact worldwide and Panama is definitely starting to move into this way of living. By now, there are a few markets that offer organic foods, mostly in Panama City and Chiriqui Province. Another important aspect to point out is that Panamanian cattle is mostly grass fed....
The food in the markets in Panama is great! You will find a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at very cheap prices compared to most countries. Organic food is having an important impact worldwide and Panama is definitely starting to move into this way of living. By now, there are a few markets that offer organic foods, mostly in Panama City and Chiriqui Province. Another important aspect to point out is that Panamanian cattle is mostly grass fed. in general terms, Panama produces very good food.
Posted March 21, 2014
Alexandre Moreno - EPA Español en Panama
I will describe myself as a food lover. The markets in Panama are great. If you want to retire to Panama or visit it, don't worry; you will find different supermarkets, groceries and markets for all kinds of customers.
If you are a North American and you want to keep your food style, you can. In this case, PriceSmart would be the best option for you. As a Canadian, I like to find the same products as I used to have back home. PriceSmart is the equivalent of Costco. Also...
If you are a North American and you want to keep your food style, you can. In this case, PriceSmart would be the best option for you. As a Canadian, I like to find the same products as I used to have back home. PriceSmart is the equivalent of Costco. Also...
I will describe myself as a food lover. The markets in Panama are great. If you want to retire to Panama or visit it, don't worry; you will find different supermarkets, groceries and markets for all kinds of customers.
If you are a North American and you want to keep your food style, you can. In this case, PriceSmart would be the best option for you. As a Canadian, I like to find the same products as I used to have back home. PriceSmart is the equivalent of Costco. Also Ribba Smith has products from the USA.
Be assured that you will find almost everything in all those supermarkets.
If you are a North American and you want to keep your food style, you can. In this case, PriceSmart would be the best option for you. As a Canadian, I like to find the same products as I used to have back home. PriceSmart is the equivalent of Costco. Also Ribba Smith has products from the USA.
Be assured that you will find almost everything in all those supermarkets.
Posted May 21, 2014
David Whittington - Tucan Golf Club and Resort
The beef here in Panama is quite a bit 
different than the beef in the US or Canada.
different than the beef in the US or Canada. The cattle in the US and Canada are grain fed, which leads to greater marbling / fat, which makes the meat more tender.
In Panama, the cattle are grass fed, so although the meat in Panama is probably a lot better for you, its pretty chewy. And because the meat in Panama has no fat or marbling, its not as tasty, either, as the meat in the US or...
The beef here in Panama is quite a bit different than the beef in the US or Canada.
different than the beef in the US or Canada. The cattle in the US and Canada are grain fed, which leads to greater marbling / fat, which makes the meat more tender.
In Panama, the cattle are grass fed, so although the meat in Panama is probably a lot better for you, its pretty chewy. And because the meat in Panama has no fat or marbling, its not as tasty, either, as the meat in the US or Canada.
Posted August 2, 2014
Charles Conn - The Visitor
We have quite a number of markets in Panama where you will find all kinds of fresh produce. If you want to find out what is in season, just go to the market. Food grown in the interior (which is the countryside) is shipped to Panama City and sold here. You will find papayas, avocados, mangoes, and exotic fruits like the starfruit, guayaba, guanabana, and whole bunch of other cool and unique produce. We also have all kinds of vegetables. There are roots that...
We have quite a number of markets in Panama where you will find all kinds of fresh produce. If you want to find out what is in season, just go to the market. Food grown in the interior (which is the countryside) is shipped to Panama City and sold here. You will find papayas, avocados, mangoes, and exotic fruits like the starfruit, guayaba, guanabana, and whole bunch of other cool and unique produce. We also have all kinds of vegetables. There are roots that people like to eat in their soup like ñame, otoe, and other staple foods that are unique to Panama. We also have yuca, which people fry up like French fries, and which make a delicious breakfast. There are also bananas, plantains and all kinds of good stuff.
If you go to the market, you’ll get a good deal on all these items. The supermarkets charge a bit more but these items are fresher in the markets.
In Panama, there is a difference between what we call “supermarkets” and what we call “markets.” We have supermarkets, which are the big chains like Super 99 and El Rey. We also have the high- end supermarket called Riba Smith, which sells international goods. The supermarkets sell the same produce as you’ll find in the markets (defined below), only that they are packaged and they cost a little more.
The supermarkets here in Panama are similar to an average American supermarket, except that we have little more variety. Let’s say you are going to a US supermarket and you buy a head of romaine lettuce. Here, romaine will be a little harder to find, and it might cost you a little bit more. But if you look at the full spectrum, because you are adding the whole variety of tropical fruits found here, you’ll find a bit more variety than you would Stateside and the goods overall are cheaper. A pineapple that might cost US $5 in the States, would cost only 99 cents here in Panama. Mangoes can cost as much as $3 - $4 each in the States, yet here, mangos just spoil on the side of the road during mango season. You can practically go to the side of the road and pick some up.
The markets, as opposed to the supermarkets, are the stalls (pictured above). Sometimes the government sets up an area for the stalls in specific places. The vendors in the stalls get the produce directly from the farmers, which is why it is cheaper and fresher. The difference is, in the supermarkets, you’ll shop in a building and you use your shopping cart, whereas, in a market, there is a lot of noise, but it is quite an experience because people negotiate and deal there. When you go to the market, you are supposed to bargain. If you like that kind of action and you want to get immersed in the Panamanian culture, you should definitely check it out. They are open to tourists, too. They won’t treat you in a weird way. If you try with whatever Spanish you may or may not have, they will really appreciate it, and you will have a great time. It is really safe, but of course, I wouldn’t go with gold jewelry. If you go in just shorts and sneakers, no one will bother you and you’ll have a great time.
Posted February 11, 2015
Melissa Darnay - Choose Panama
The food in the markets in Panama is amazing. Anything that’s grown in Panama is going to be very fresh because of the diverse microclimates. You’re going to get anything from berries like blackberries and strawberries (which grow in the cooler climates), to tropical fruits like mangoes, pineapples, and papayas that grow in the warmer climates. Because you’re buying produce directly from the farm, it’s going to be very, very fresh. It’s not going to last...The food in the markets in Panama is amazing. Anything that’s grown in Panama is going to be very fresh because of the diverse microclimates. You’re going to get anything from berries like blackberries and strawberries (which grow in the cooler climates), to tropical fruits like mangoes, pineapples, and papayas that grow in the warmer climates. Because you’re buying produce directly from the farm, it’s going to be very, very fresh. It’s not going to last on your counter for two weeks like you’re used to at the grocery store in the US. When you get your fruit here in Panama, it’s just going to taste like fruit should taste. There’s also a wide variety of vegetables available in Panama: the largest and most beautiful leaks you’ve ever seen; celery that’s as big as your arm; onions; potatoes; all the things that you’re used to eating, plus a few great surprises.
For example, I love basil. I love making my own pesto. You can get basil at the farmer’s market for US $0.50 for a huge bunch. If you take two or three bunches and you add some olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts, all of a sudden you have a huge batch of pesto that will last for months. You can freeze it. The leaves on the basil are just so big and lovely.
I also love eggplant. It’s a different type of eggplant here than you get in the US. It’s small and thin versus the big ones, but it’s more flavorful. You can also get spinach. It’s a different type of spinach. It has a stronger flavor, but if you love spinach, it’s amazing.
(Pictured: produce of Panama.)
Posted July 30, 2015
Luis Rossi
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You can find good food in the markets in Panama. There is fresh fish in the markets. You would also find different kinds of vegetables, some of which do not exist in North America, so there are no North American names for them. I have lived in Spain and I am from Chile but I could say that the food here in Panama is different because when you move from one place to another, the culture changes and that includes the food recipes. If you go to the market,...
You can find good food in the markets in Panama. There is fresh fish in the markets. You would also find different kinds of vegetables, some of which do not exist in North America, so there are no North American names for them. I have lived in Spain and I am from Chile but I could say that the food here in Panama is different because when you move from one place to another, the culture changes and that includes the food recipes. If you go to the market, you will notice that because you might see the same ingredients in one meal but the presentation and their way of eating it is different from what you are used to.
If you go to Europe, they have different kinds of fish. A lot of them, you will not find here in Panama because the sea where these fish are caught are different. You can have sea bass there but not here. All these fishes are from Spain or Chile. Here in Panama, you will find the typical Caribbean or Central American fishes like corbina, pargo, pulpo (octopus), etc.
Panamanians use a lot of coconut when they’re cooking and that gives a nice flavor to the meals. The spices here in Panama are also different. They have the Afro influence. When the construction of the Panama Canal started, people from Antilles moved to Panama and a lot of them are Africans. Because of that, they have also influenced the food recipes of Panama, which are similar to the ones you will find in Jamaica or in Belize.
(Pargo or red snapper served with fried plantains, Panama, pictured.)
Posted May 11, 2016