Salsa Lizano

Today we discussed Costa Rica in class, which brought to mind my favorite thing about the country: Salsa Lizano. Costa Rica is worth visiting for this sauce alone! The sauce, made with tamarinds, can be described as part sweet, part savory and only slightly spicy. You will find it on most tables in Costa Rica, whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you want to buy some like I just did, go here.

Introduced to the country in 1920, Salsa Lizano was produced by a family-operated business called Productos Lizano. The company grew rapidly and althouth it cannot rival coffee, Salsa Lizano is currently a significant Costa Rican export. Because this sauce is a source of national pride, I was suprised to read that the company was bought out by Unilever of England. Evidently, this is a trend amongst formerly family-owned businesses in Costa Rica. One of the reasons cited for the sale of local companies is that the next generation does not want to take over the family business. I believe this was the case for the Lizano family because someone once pointed out the Salsa Lizano heir to me, and let's just say he was allegedly already involved in his own illegal business ventures. I just wonder what the implications are for local companies being bought out by international corporations. Is this a positive or negative trend for the Costa Rican economy?

So, there you have it-- business, gossip, and a way to spice up your next meal!