On those days when I feel homesick, it doesn’t mean I don’t like living in the United States and being an American citizen, but just that I miss my family and friends a lot. Those are the days that I will go to the closest Latin market and crazy or not, I go to the Colombian food aisle and feel like I am home. Just the other day I was walking in the supermarket looking for some Masarepa and I saw this little box of Triguisar and I was so happy that I wanted to buy a dozen! Maybe you are thinking, “what is the big deal, maybe she needs a shrink”.
Ok, so let me explain. This powdered seasoning is one of the most popular seasonings in Colombia. I grew up seeing it in my grandmother’s and mother’s kitchen and seeing it again in a market here in the USA made me really happy. Every time I call my mom in Colombia for a recipe, she tells me to use Triguisar. To this point, the closest seasoning to this one, that I found here, is Sazon Goya with Azafran. Although I really like it, just seeing this little box of Triguisar from Colombia gave me a great feeling! I am sure that a lot of Colombians living in other parts of the world and others, who no longer live in their home countries, can understand! I hope so, if not, maybe I really do need a shrink
sarita
Nas, I think Color is tartrazine which is added to foods to give them an attractive yellow colour (it is often used to replace the more expensive saffron), and Triguisar also contains it. Tartracine is also known as E102, and has been associated with behaviour problems and hyperactivity in children, so it should be used with caution, and is actually banned in many countries. It certainly adds appeal to food, but it is probably not wise to consume large amounts, which shouldn't be a problem when eating a meal cooked with it, but kids should avoid soft drinks that contain it! I have a Colombian husband and he says I shouldn't take it too seriously, but I have seen the effects of a medicine containing tartrazine on our son, he was climbing the walls!
Nas
So do you guys know if Triguisar is the same thing as "Color"? like Color el Rey? I'm from Colombia and never heard of this product, weird? lol in my family we only use Color el Rey but in the states is like mission impossible to get it, so if you guys know if is the same thing 😀 dang it I'll buy a truck full of it, since I have a goya store that carries it!
😀 thanks!
Angie
Ya estoy lista para hacer mi arroz con pollo con triguisar Yummy, Dios quiera me quede bien no soy buena cocinera
Danny
I have finally managed to track this down in the UK! I found it in a tiny little Colombian cafe, my Sudados have not been the same since! So so so happy!!
Luz Adriana
Hi Erica, I do feel the same way when I found the Triguisar while I lived in Glendale, California. I felt that I was in home...because my mom always used it in her kitchen. My husband is Mexican and I cook some mexican dishes; I made pozole, the recipe is from his sister that lives in Guadalajara, Mexico, but I add triguisar and one day I made pozole and shared with my coworkers, they loved it, one of them said that is the best pozole that she ever ate, she is Mexican American and requested the recipe, When I gave it, I have to explain about the triguisar. Now I'm living in Escondido, Ca. and I found Triguisar in Vallarta Supermarket.
Miriam.
Hola! estoy muy contenta con esta pajina recomendada por mi hijo que es nacido en new jersey de padre colombiano y siempre me llamaba para preguntar por cualquier receta pues como todo los colombianos sus comidas siguen siendo higual como en colombia y el se acostumbro asi su señora es americana y yo siempre le decia busca a Ingrid la colombiana de univision en tonces un dia llamao y le volvi a decir lo mismo y el me dijo te mandare el link de Erica sus recetas son muy buenas ya hice el arros con pollo de Erica y me quedo delicioso .Disculpa tan largo el comentario pero yo ya soy adicta a Erica y Facebook jajaja._ SUERTE CON EL EMBARASO
JM
I completely agree with in regards to any Colombian foods found in local supermarkets. I found a big box of Triguisar in LA but have not been able to find that same size in Florida. For those of you wondering how to use it, you can use it the same way you use salt and pepper or Lawry's salt when coooking. I use it in eggs "huevos pericos" soups, stews actually anything I cook.
Nice webpage! I will make sure and bookmark it.
Gado-Gado Gal
Erica,
I do feel the same way. My mom is Indonesian, and every once in a while I'll find an Asian grocery that stocks an Indonesian product section. Sambal (chili sauces), kecap manis (thick, sweet soy sauce), gula Jawa (Javanese coconut palm sugar), terasi (dried shrimp paste), and Te Jahe (ginger tea) are my favorite items to find that help soothe the ache I feel for my mom who is so far away.
My partner is Colombian living in Australia. Australia is lucky enough to have a Colombian importer that gets everything from both Triguisar and Sazon Goya con Azafran, to Sol and Corona, to PAN and Doñarepa, to almidon de yuca, maiz trillado, and chontaduro. I bet you can find other importers of Colombian products where you live, or place an order for products through the distributor that supplies the store you found.
Also, I have one suggestion or request. Perhaps you can now add triguisar to all the recipes where you indicated Sazon Goya con Azafran. This way, people who can find Triguisar in stores know that they can use either in your dishes, especially since that's what you would've used instead of Sazon Goya in your earlier recipes. What do you think?
Best,
Misha
Erica
Misha- Thank you so much for your suggestion and comment!
Sandra G
Erica guess what? I had one of those moments today, last night my sister call me from a supermarket that we don't usually go to and she said you have to come here! I see a lot of stuff that says Peru on them, I could not wait, so today I dragged my Peruvian husband to the supermarket and I got so exited that I kept saying "I think I'm going to have a hard attack", almost half o an isle was Peruvian products! I saw things that I've only seen in Peru when we've travel there! (of course I bring as much stuff as I can when we go). But you now what? I also remember you!, because I saw boxes and boxes of "Triguisar"! and many more Colombian products, of course I had to buy a few boxes of it so that I can make more of your recipes!. I'm really surprise about all of this Peruvian and Colombian Products since the city I live in I've only met two Colombians and About Four Peruvians (my husband being one of them), sorry for the long post, but I think you would understand the excitement!
KaDee
Erica thanks for making this website as I like to try other Colombian recipes too.
I will pass this site along to my friends & siblings.
Erica
KaDee- Thank you so much for your comment!
KaDee
I feel the same about missing Colombian dishes and I was born in the US.
My parents are both Colombian so that is what we ate all the time. I dilute it with a little
water and mix it in with beef or chicken or fish after sauteeing the meat with cut onions,
garlic, tomatoes and then garnish with fresh cilantro. Now that I am moving to a distant
land which I know won't carry this product. I plan to bring lots of boxes and use the food
sealer to retain freshness so I will have triguisar for a long time until the next visit.
My husband also loves Colombian food.
stephanie
Hello Rachel & Erica!
I always joke with my Colombian husband, "Just add triguisar to make any dish Colombian!" LOL We use triguisar in all our Colombian dishes and when I make chili too! Surprisingly here in Canada my husband and I never have problems finding it. I've noticed that NO FRILLS a chain of grocery stores in Ontario often carries a variety of Colombian products! We always get our Triguisar, Manzana Postobon, Colombiana, Rollitos, Guyava Castipan and few other things at NO FRILLS!
Rachel is you live close to Oakville there is a great Latin market on Kerr st called Tropical, they have great South American stuff and Triguisar too! LOL We always buy our Colombian tamales and empanadas there!
Enjoy!
Erica
Stephanie- Thank you so much for your comment!
Rachel
I am so happy I stumbled on to this site!! I had a Colombian friend that used to bring Triguisar from Columbia for me but we have lost touch over the years and I have been out of it forever. We are doing and international dinner night and I need this spice to make the yummy dishes that my long lost friend taught me years ago. Do you know of any grocery stores in Toronto, Ontario Canada that carry this spice??
On a personal not, you are not crazy and do not need a shrink at all. You are passionate about your homeland and probably miss it terribly. Little reminders of our homes like a familiar dish put a smile on our faces. There is nothing crazy or wrong with that!!!!! Cheers!
Erica
Rachel- Thank you so much for your comment! I don't know any stores in Canada. Sorry!
Juan R.
No You Do not need a shrink. And if you do then Every one of us who gets hope sick needs one I think it's just that we never get used to leaving in other places with different environment than we grew up with.
JR
viviana
I get what you say and feel Erica. Luckily, I've been able to find it at a nearby Latino food store.I use it for almost everything! I love the taste and smell,which reminds me of my mamita's cooking and of course, home.......
Oysterculture
Isn't it funny how its just the little things that make us so happy. Glad you fond this little bit of home to make you feel better,