Ecuador Bound

November 2 of every year is All Souls Day or Day of the Dead. It is practiced around the world. Ecuador, in particular, makes this a festive and family oriented holiday as El Día de los Difuntos, literally The Day of the Deceased, or All Soul’s Day. Ecuadorians find it crude to say “Day of the Dead.”

Families remember their dearly departed by adorning themselves in their finest clothes and visiting their grave sites with offerings of food and flowers, etc. Most roads are closed and blocked off as long processions of people make their way to the cemeteries. The dead are visited and their graves are decorated with fresh flowers and food brought to them.

In the smaller more traditional towns, whole families reunite to clean the graves and then spend their day picnicking at the graves of their loved ones. Colada Morada, a blueberry- and blackberry-based drink, is paired with Guaguas de pan, a sweet dipping bread in the shape of babies, as the traditional food prepared on this festive & uplifting day (not depressing as you would think).

Recipes for Colada Morada will vary from family or region. Most versions will contain blueberries, blackberries, and pineapple. Others will contain naranjilla juice (an Andean fruit), babaco (champagne fruit), strawberries, and even raisins.

Serve the Colada Morada (translated as the purple colada, or oatmeal drink) hot or cold. Ecuadorians eat Guaguas de pan, soft bread loaves shaped in the form of babies [guagua (pronounced wa-wa) - means baby in Quichua] along with their Colada. These breads are filled with chocolate or jellies and decorated with frosting. If you have a problem eating dead babies (LOL) then dip any soft bread into the fruity drink.

One element of the traditional Ecuadorian recipe is purple corn flour. This item is not readily available in other regions of the world so cornstarch can and is substituted for the purple corn flour. Cornstarch will actually keep longer as the corn flour in the drink tends to ferment it. Another is oatmeal that is used to thicken it up, hence it’s translated name.

I have added a few different ingredients in this recipe. Depending on what you have on hand or what you can find, you can use whole spices or ground. If you wish to use fresh pineapple then cook down (approx. 20 min.) to soft but not mushy and substitute for crushed pineapple.

---

COLADA MORADA

1 1/2 lbs. of blueberries, be sure to rinse
2 lbs. of blackberries, raspberries or boysenberries (cooks choice)
1 lg. can crushed pineapple (if not using a fresh pineapple)
2+ c. sugar (depending on your desired sweetness)
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. pineapple juice
1/3 c. cornstarch (depending on thickness desired)

---

*Note: If you choose the whole spices (instead of the ground) then you need to steep the “spice tea” – simply add to pot of water (just enough for small amount of “tea”), boil for 15 min. or so and let cool. Then add this “spice tea” to the juice mixture.

1/4 – 1/2 tsp. allspice or 6-8 whole allspice*
1/4 – 1/2 tsp. cloves or 6-8 whole cloves*

If in Ecuador or a good So. American Market purchase these specifically for this drink:
1/2 bundle of spices for Colada Morada (5-6 orange leaves, 1 fistful each of lemon verbena and myrtle)*
1-2 ishpingo (Ecuadorian spice)*

---

4-5 Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Simmer berries in water. Let cool then mash and strain. Put berry liquid in a large pot. Add water at 1:1 ratio of water & juice. Add pineapple and pineapple juice. Mix well and heat thoroughly. Add sugar and spices or “spice tea” (adjust amounts to taste). Stir.

If using cornstarch place in a glass (I like to mix in a glass jar with a lid so I can shake it) of cold water. Stir and dissolve the cornstarch for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the Colada to thicken. When the juice mixture reaches simmer, add cornstarch mixture from previous step.

Mix well. Serve hot or cold. Serve with Guaguas de pan or soft dipping bread.
Makes 10+ servings.

Optional: Serve with cinnamon sticks (best if serving hot).

---

This is an Ecuadorian Recipe I translated from Spanish from GoEcuador.com:

INGREDIENTS (40 cups)

1 pound blackberries
1/2 pound of mortiño
10 orangettes
1/2 pineapple, chopped
1 pound strawberries
1/2 pound black flour
o maicena or cornstarch
3 sheets of orange
6 -10 leaves of lemon verbena
10 leaves of myrtle
6 cloves
10 sweet peppercorns
4 sticks cinnamon
1 ishpingo
1 1/2 pound of sugar
1/2 babaco

PREPARATION
Place in a pot with 2 liters of water all the spices (cinnamon, cloves, pepper, shiping). When water grass in about 15 minutes, add the lemon verbena leaves, myrtle, lemon, orange and leave for 5 minutes. CERN is water and carries it back to fire and without herbs.

Mix the cornstarch or flour 2 cups black in cold water until dissolved and mixed in the water in the fire, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.

Station

In addition, the mortiño cook in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes, hovering and liquefies, add the juice to the previous preparation.

Wash berries and liquefied with half a cup of water, getting a thick juice that is added equally to the laundry. Do the same with orangettes laundry and let it boil for 15 minutes.

Chop diced pineapple, strawberries and babaco the end, we put in the wash, add sugar to taste and leave for 10 minutes. To serve, you can use a cup or jar and place raisins to taste. The drink can be taken hot or cold.

The translation leaves a little to be desired LOL

---

Below are videos of some of the traditional recipes. I could NOT find any in English but you can watch the preparation & use either recipe above. Either that, just enjoy their festivities and language. Their passion in making these dishes comes through. I couldn’t find any Ecuadorian videos on their festivities either, so I added a Mexican one in the States.

TIME ZONE: GMT minus 5 hours on mainland Ecuador and GMT minus 6 hours in the Galapagos Islands. Daylight Savings Time is not used in Ecuador.

---

COUNTRY CALLING CODE: +593 + city code.

---

LANGUAGE: The main language spoken is Spanish, followed by Quechua and then 20 or so other indiginous variations.

---

REGIONS: Ecuador is basically divided into four unique regions. They are called different names depending on who you are talking to. They are:

• The Pacific Coast (La Costa)
• The Andes or Sierra (La Sierrra)
• The Amazon Rainforest or El Oriente (Amazonia) and
• The Galapagos Islands (Galapagos)

---

RELIGION: Ecuador Religion can be defined as a secular in nature because the country of Ecuador practices freedom of worship, as mandated by The Ecuadorian Constitution of 1998. The dominant religion in Ecuador is Catholic. During the many festivals in Ecuador the indiginous people also parade their religions alongside of the Catholic traditions.

---

MONEY: The official money used in Ecuador is the American Dollar (USD). The bills are the same as those used in the United States but the coins are printed in Ecuador with the images of historical personalities in Ecuador. They are the same in size, weight, etc. but they are only valid within the territory of Ecuador.

Additionally, Ecuador, at the time of dollarization, issued centavo coins. These coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and $1. These are equal in value to the U.S. coins. The $1 centavo coin is commonly used.

ATM’s are found in most towns and cities and in some remote areas as well. Just be sure you pay attention to the logos on the ATM terminal to check which companies service it such as Pulse ATM or Cirrus ATM. This is common in the States. Also, for added protection please note that the safest ATM’s are those that are found inside shopping centers and in front of actual banks themselves.

Credit and debit cards are used heavily, with some surcharge, and Traveler’s Checks are accepted at the banks for a surcharge as well.

If you are going to do a bank transfer note that it takes at least 3 working days.

---

---

WEATHER: The weather and climate of Ecuador depends on where you are. As a general rule: The climate is tropical along the Pacific Coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations such as in The Sierra; and back to tropical in the Amazonian jungle lowlands (Oriente).

I have included a weather widget for each of the 3 largest cities for your convience:

Forecast for Cuenca

Forecast for Guayaquil

Forecast for Quito

---

TAXES: 12% VAT and 10% service in most hotels and restaurants. Be sure to ask if this tax is already included in the bill, most are, but some are not.

---

ELECTRIC CURRENT: 110/AC. So bring along your small electric appliances like shavers and hair dryers. NOTE: It is good to bring, or buy, a 3-pronged adapter as some of the outlets are the old style and don’t accomodate the newer 3-pronged connectors.

---

HEALTH RISKS: No vaccinations are needed to enter Ecuador. As with any tropical country around the world there is a risk of malaria, as in certain areas of the Amazon and the Coast. Discuss these issues with your local Dr. or Health Department.

---

EXPORT PRODUCTS: Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, flowers, coffee, wooden products, etc.

---

YOUR SAFETY: The safest way to carry money is a money belt worn under clothing. As in most touristy locals, pickpockets can spot a traveler a mile away. Also keep spare cash in a separate purse or wallet for easy access. This actually helps out in the event you do get pickpocketed, as the theif will NOT get all your money and won’t suspect he hasn’t gotten it!

Remember to leave your documents and valuables in a safety deposit box in your hotel (most hotels will accomodate this need). You just need to carry the copy of your passport. I have heard make sure the copies are in color (never leave without at least that).

Unfortunately, a general rule of thumb is don’t take busses and chances at night. After 6 p.m. it’s best to call a taxi from the hotel or restaurant for evening visits to the city or going out for dinner. Avoid walking the streets after dark also, unless you are not in the city and have the go ahead from people who know the area.