Treasures of Colombia: Pan Galleta (Colombian Street Food)

“Man shall not live by bread alone”, but bread for Colombians is one of the most preferred foods. It is also one of the oldest foods in all of history.

I know that Jamaicans love bread, however, to my astonishment, the Colombians´ love of bread far exceeds that of my fellow Jamaicans.

Bread is eaten all over Colombia.

It is eaten at breakfast with a hot mug of chocolate or black coffee (tinto), after lunch with into or soda as an afternoon snack and also eaten at nights as supper or with supper accompanied by a choice beverage.

Note, bread is also eaten just like another snack, example potato chips or Cheetos.

Treasures of Colombia: Pan Galleta (Colombian Street Food)

By: Stacey-Ann Smith.

Colombia has a large variety of bread – different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.

So whenever I visit the bakery (panaderia) it takes me a while before I can make my order.

The Ingenuity with breads here – in Colombia – is top notch;. When you enter a bakery it is like stepping into a bread art museum. I am always impressed by the level of innovation and creativity.

One night at about eight o clock, I visited my friends´ house and was offered a plate with three huge round looking bulla cakes, though, not as flat as a bulla. Of course, out of curiosity, I asked what they were.

My friend Camila responded – se llama “Pan Galleta” which translates into “bread biscuit”.

She then proceeded to tell me that before the bread is entered into the oven biscuit is crumbled on top with a sprinkle of white granulated sugar and then Butter and Arequipe (a smooth, thick mixture made of caramelized condensed milk) is added in the middle.

Whilst eating this bread pastry it reminded me so much of being in Jamaica.

As a child, I loved eating the good ole white hard dough National bread with Betty condensed milk or just the plain ole bread and Chiffon butter. As aforementioned, this bread has a different spin to it; however, the butter in the middle brought me back to a happy place.

So if you are a baker or if you know a baker, you can recommend this bread – biscuit pastry.

Pan Galleta – Bread Biscuit

About the writer:

Stacey Ann Smith is from Kingston, Jamaica. She is an alumna of Camperdown High School and she graduated from The Shortwood Teachers’ College having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages, Spanish and French. Presently, Stacey is an English teacher at a University in Colombia. She describes herself as a vivacious and loving person who also has a passion for traveling, taking pictures, her son Nicholas and Ashley, her adorable feline.