Costa Rican Love For Coffee, Music and the Arts

Costa Ricans love to dance, sing and party. The foundation of native music in Costa Rica is based on this "marimba, " an African-derived, xylophone-style instrument. Costa Rican folk songs are nostalgic and have a ballad-like melody. The lyrics praise the beauty of the country, their people, the landscape, and often talk about the work it's going to take to grow the crops and to cultivate coffee. This country has a national "passion for coffee, the almond of gold, " so it is not unusual to hear references to the beans in music lyrics, poetry, reading or everyday conversation.

The sound of marimba, combined with the sounds of steel drums, reggae beats and also other instruments of the Caribbean creates a very special and festive sound.

The Costa Rican national folk show up, the "Punto Guanacaste, " composed by Leandro Cabalceta Brau, is a heel-and-toe stomping dance for adults. This folk dance is often performed in theaters and at special occasions.
However , it is a popular creep in rural settings where couples may wear the traditional costumes for the occasion.
The dance portrays dating traditions of the past where the male dancer follows the female partner. The female dancer pretends to get away from your male who periodically shouts "¡Bomba! " The music stops so the male can recite praises and "bombas" to his lady.
These praises tend to be humorous and draw cheers and applauses from the target market. They can also draw spontaneous participation from the audience with general laughter and more cheer. An example of a traditional "bomba" is "... They say that you don't love me because I don't have a mustache. Tomorrow I will put one on made out of buzzard feathers... "
Other popular music genres in Costa Rica comprise: Rock 'n roll (music from the USA from the 1940's and 1950's). Latin alternative rock, Pop (popular music). Calypso (Afro-Caribbean music from Trinidad Tobago). Disco (dance music from the 1970's). Salsa (modern form Cuban playing rhythms). Meringue (music and dance originally from the Dominican Republic). Cumbia (Colombian musical fashion and folk dance). Soca (soul calypso in the form of dance music). Chiqui-Chiqui (a mixture of meringue, cumbia, together with afro-pop tones). Tex-Mex, Mexican music, Tangos, and even Celtic music.

Costa Rica is also a country which includes a passion for theatrical performances and drama.

The "Peña" is an intellectual style or type of performance that's interesting for the way it blends music with spoken word and poetry.
The "Peña" was unveiled by Chilean and Argentinean exiles living in Costa Rica.
The "Peña" promotes the participation of the customers and is a favorite of cafés, where moving songs are shared all around the table.
Coffee, beverages, tears with laughter or emotion and much clapping are always part of the scene.
In the Costa Rican tradition, "Café Minus Leche" is included in menus and ranks high in domestic consumption at cafés, day and night.
Costa Rica's day life, particularly in the larger cities, buzzes with live music ranging from traditional Latin rhythms to normal symphonies at the spectacular National Theater in San José. In the early morning, as the towns come to life, one thing you could be sure will fill the air everywhere is the exquisite smell of fresh bread and recently brewed coffees. Because most towns are small and the cafés are literally everywhere, there is no escaping the fragrance with best Cuban coffee ready for the asking! Of course, who wants to escape the wonderful aroma of coffee?

So , precisely what you waiting for? As they say in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida! " (Pure Life): go ahead and enjoy a delicious glass of Costa Rican Tarrazu or Costa Rican SHB Decaffeinated gourmet coffee!

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy. " He is an expert in content who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in the areas of personal and professional interest.

Coffee Recipes - One Coffee Cup At A Time

For any coffee lover one advantage of traveling abroad is the opportunity to sample the delightful international varieties of coffee quality recipes as well as the different ways of savoring coffee.

The possibilities of coffee recipes could be endless but just to mention several (Caribbean, Mexican mocha, Cuban cubano and Grog) bring about a nostalgic feeling in my palate.

Lets examine some of these recipes.

The first is one is one of the more unusual. Be a little daring when making this one. First, start by baking some sort of coconut for thirty minutes at 300F (134C). At the end of the thirty minutes, remove the coconut and set it aside to allow it to cool. Once cooled break open the shell and remove the inner flesh and additionally grate. Mix the meat, coconut milk and a half-cup of cow's milk in a pan and heating until it thickens. Then strain the mixture to remove the coconut granules. Mix the mixture which includes a cup of coffee and sip. Savor the coconut milk taste mixed with the coffee. Yummy

Next lets generate a mocha Mexican style. This is a delicious blend of coffee and chocolate - two natural partners. To start with require a teaspoon of your favorite chocolate syrup and add a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg. Wow, it's starting off good. Making me a little hungry.. Next, pour in one cup of coffee and add white or all natural sugar to your taste. To top it off you can mix with whipping cream, or top using whipped cream. You can't go wrong with this recipe.

Cubano is drunk like tequila, straight and like a chance. For the Americano, you might want to dilute with rum or hot milk. Add rum to taste, but any longer than a tablespoonful of milk will really spoil the effect. Be adventurous!

Grog, a traditional English holiday start treating is sweet and sour mixed into one. Carefully peel a large orange and separate into pieces. Do the same with a lemon. Put a peel about the size of one orange slice into the bottom in the cup. Mix in one-third tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of brown sugar, a pinch both of ground cloves and nutmeg. Then throw in a pinch of cinnamon. Pour in a half-cup of java and stir. Add heavy cream to taste. Happy holidays.

How about these international delights, such as Viennese, Turkish and Vietnamese?

For the Viennese, melt one-eighth cup dark chocolate into a sauce pan and stir within a tablespoon of light cream. Slowly add a half-cup of coffee and whip until frothy, then permit settle. Sprinkle cinnamon and cocoa across the surface and taste with pinky raised. Now you're a great aristocrat.

The Turkish is very simple. It would be to your advantage to obtain one of the special "dzezva" pots used to boil the flavored coffee. Yes, boil! Turkish coffee is strong. This coffee is not for the weak at heart. Start with finely earth Turkish coffee. Pour a cup of water into the pot, then add a half teaspoon of handsome and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add a teaspoon of the coffee, then stir in addition to replace onto the heat. Remove after a layer of foam appears, then allow to settle and cool.

That iced coffee drink of Vietnam is not to be missed. Acquire a Vietnamese coffee press. The hard a part is now over. Put the ground coffee in the press, and then pour a tablespoon of condensed milk in the bottom of a cup. Pour boiling water over the press and let drip. Stir and add winter snow storms. Wow!

Once again, taking an international world tour will reveal even more recipes that I did not mention in this article. This isn't a bad idea if your interested in find new and exotic recipes.