Haiti is known for its vibrant culture. And Haiti food is no exception! From savory and hearty Haitian patties to sweet and icy frescos, the country is home to a wide range of delicious and unique Haitian snacks.
Haitian cuisine is based on a mix of Creole and French cooking styles. In most dishes, you’ll find rice, corn, yams, beans and meat. And when it comes to Haitian snacks, you’ll find a variety of ingredients.
Let’s look at some Haitian snacks many children and their families enjoy throughout Haiti.
7 Delicious & Beloved Haitian Snacks
1. Mangoes
The island’s warm climate is perfect for growing a lot of tropical fruits, such as pineapples, coconuts, guavas, oranges, grapefruit and even lemons. But the most common fruit grown in Haiti is the mango. In fact, it’s the national fruit of Haiti!
Mangoes are often used to make juice or used as an addition to various recipes. But many children like to eat mangoes picked fresh from the trees.
Mango season runs from the end of March to the beginning of August in Haiti. However, mangoes can typically be found throughout the country year-round. Many families living in poverty in Haiti eat mangoes often as they’re inexpensive and easily accessible.
2. Quenepas
Another common fruit in Haiti is the quenepa or Spanish lime. Quenepas are the perfect mix of sweet and sour. In Haiti, quenepas might be used to make various jams or jellies. For extra flavor, some children might add a sprinkle of salt!
Quenepas are also eaten fresh after pulling the outer skin away, just like we would with a lemon or orange.
Related Read: Kids From Around the World Share Their Favorite Healthy Meals
3. Papitas
Plantains are a staple food in Haiti. In fact, they’re often found in every meal. Papitas, or fried plantains, are a favorite snack in Haiti. Papitas are made by cutting the plantains thin and then frying them until they’re golden and crispy.
If you visit Haiti, you’ll probably find papitas being sold by street vendors throughout the country. When you bite into papitas, you’ll taste the sweetness of the plantain and enjoy the satisfying crunch of the caramelized outside.
Fried plantains are enjoyed in countries around the world. And each country has its own unique spin on this snack. Here are two of our favorite recipes.
4. Bonbon Amidon
Bonbon Amidon, or starch cookies, are sweet, small cookies known to melt in your mouth. Ingredients for these cookies include starch (or amidon), sugar, butter, baking powder and spices like cinnamon.
Bonbon Amidon are similar to what we know as sugar cookies. However, instead of using flour, you use starch. The result is a light and unique cookie that melts as you chew. Delicious!
5. Haitian Patties
While Bonbon Amidon and fried plantains may satisfy your sweet tooth, Haitian patties are perfectly savory treats. The Haitian patty is a puff pastry filled with ingredients like pork, beef, chicken, fish or even turkey.
These patties are often eaten as a hearty snack or in addition to a meal as a side dish. Some families even enjoy patties as a yummy and filling breakfast before going about their day.
A group of teenagers in the Compassion program learn how to cook at their Compassion center.
Haitian patties are often found at roadside food stands throughout Haiti or in local bakeries.
6. Cremas
Cremas, also known as kremas or cremasse, is a sweet drink consisting of condensed and evaporated milk, cream of coconut, coconut milk and lime. This unbelievably creamy drink also includes warm spices like star anise and nutmeg.
Children and families like to enjoy this Haitian snack during the holidays or special celebrations throughout the year.
What does cremas taste like? It’s decadent and similar to what we know as eggnog, a creamy drink commonly enjoyed during Christmas. However, cremas is slightly different as it does not include egg.
7. Frescos
Last but far from least on our list of favorite Haitian snacks is the fresco, or shaved ice drizzled with flavored syrup.
A common street food favorite, frescos are often flavored with grenadine syrup or mint syrup. To cut the sweetness of this treat, some frescos are even served with roasted peanuts!
Frescos are often enjoyed by children wanting to beat the island heat. Frescos are easy to make too — simply shave your ice, add your favorite syrup and top with peanuts, if you wish!
Did you know that children in Haiti are among the most vulnerable? Many Haitian children don’t have the staples they need to fill their hungry bellies. You can help by sponsoring a child in Haiti.
See Even More Recipes From Around the World
Haiti isn’t the only country with unique cuisine! Check out these delicious recipes from other countries around the world.
6 Comments |Add a comment
I LOVE Haitian food! I was there this summer and my daughter both loved everything we ate there! Both of us will suddenly get this look on our faces and say together “Haitian chicken, we need some Haitian chicken.” It’s our sponsored child’s favorite food too, so we love it even more!
I live in Haiti (I’m a missionary here), and these are good snacks for adults too. 😉 I love papita, especially getting it fresh from a vendor on the street. Most of the time they have the salty kind, but sometimes you can find sweet papita. That’s my favorite!
Ooo, I had dried slices of plantain in Nicaragua, very good! Sweet plantains (kinda made like a sweet potato) are also so good!
I will have to ask Lucie if she likes mangos! Thank you so much for this post. I love learning more about the countries Compassion works in, especially those in which I sponsor/correspond with kids.
Lizzie 🙂
Praying for Haiiti. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Teena!!