EAT IN ASIA / Destinations / Other destinations / Northern america / Dominican republic
What is a 'colmado' in the Dominican Republic?
Colmado, comedor, cafetería. All these words appear on all streets even in the smallest village. So, what does these signs mean? What is inside? If you are curios, read the post!
We have already written about cafeterías and comedores in the Dominican Republic, and now, it is time for colmados.
Let’s start!
What is a colmado?
If I had to define its meaning, I would say, that it is a local, small shop. Something like a convenience store but the one, that is offering a little bit more limited set of products. It does not mean that the quality of these products is poor or basic but usually you will not be able to choose between multiple milk or toothpaste brands.
What can you buy in a colmado?
The list of products that is available in a colmado is very limited and depends on the store. However, most of them offer alcohol and some soft drinks. Apart from that, you will probably get there some basic, processed food, fresh fruits and vegetables, snacks, and cosmetics.
Alcohol in colmados
One of the main products that are sold in colmados are alcoholic beverages. This product group offers, I guess, the widest selection of all sold there products. So, apart from beers (that are always cold), rum and other liquors are available.
The beers’ list varies from place to place, but President is almost everywhere. It is sold in different bottle sizes, starting with small ones, through medium-sized, and ending on big, one-liter ones. While President is the most popular and the favorite one, other brands appear there too. That means, that if you are looking for other beer brands like for example Brahma, One etc., you will be able to buy them there too. Apart from that, imported, Mexican beers are also very popular. Modelo and Corona are the most popular and available in almost all bigger colmados.
Soft drinks in colmados
Of course, alcohol beverages are not the only ones that are sold in colmados. Although, there is a huge number of them, soft drinks are also in fridges. Here, the list is much more limited, but the majority of the most popular drinks is available. That could be either any carbonated or non-carbonated drink, or local juices in cartoon packages. International brands like Coca-Cola are on a regular basis. The same applies to all favorite local brands like for example Rica.
Then, there is also water. Water is sold both bottled in portable, regular size packages and in big water tanks that are dedicated for local distributors. This purified water is a good option for all local comedores and restaurants, that can get a quick support in case they run out of it.
Cartoon juices are usually chosen by students and children. The preferred taste is of course an orange one; however, that is not surprising. Some colmados offer also, a let’s say, home-made juice or lemonade. This beverage is made of chopped, fresh, local fruits. It might be a mix of pineapple, papaya, melon or any other available at that exact moment juicy fruit. This juice is diluted with water and mixed with a lot of sugar.
Food in colmados
The selection of available food products is not so big but in case you need to eat something quickly, you will definitively be able to find there some products for yourself. Mainly, that are canned or packed products. Fresh food is rarely available, so do not expect a lot of colmados where you could buy eggs, salami, or cheese, even though that are for you basic, breakfast products. However, all products like canned beans, corn, tomatoes, and salsas in bottles are on shelves. So are oils like a vegetable butter or any oil (do not expect an extra-virgin olive oil). If you are looking for vegan options, that is not the best place to do so.
Here, you will also get some instant products like Asian soups, noodles etc.
Apart from that, you will find in colmados breakfast products like cornflakes, jams, and milk (or its substitute). If it is about milk, it could be both canned and condensed, and fresh in a cartoon. Apart from that, there is a very popular coffee creamer in powder. As mentioned above, do not expect either a soya or an almond milk. If any vegan option had to be available, that would be a coconut milk but that is very rare in colmados. This milk is available in bigger stores, so you will have to go and do your shopping there.
Bread and sandwiches are sold almost the whole day long. So, everything like buns, empanadas etc. will be there starting from the opening hour till the late evening.
Snacks in colmados
Snacks are not very popular in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans prefer their local, fresh products like fruits and pastries. That does not mean that chips and sweet bars are not sold. They do exist but not in such a variety as in Western countries. Apart from that, almost all colmados have a freezer with ice-creams. Usually that are local brands both from the Dominican Republic and from other Caribbean and Central American countries.
Then, there is a section dedicated to all kind of candies, chewing gums, packed biscuits etc. Of course, an instant coffee and tea bags are there too. Finally, energy drinks like Red Bull are an alternative for a coffee shot, that can be bought there too.
Cosmetics in colmados
Finally, you will be able to buy some cosmetics in colmados. Some basic products like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorants, shaving foam etc. will be there too. As with all other products, do not expect to get your favorite one. Rather, you will have to buy the only one that is on the shelve, and I am pretty sure, that would not be your preferred one. However, that is still a good option in case you reach a place and have nothing with you or you just run out of your backup.
Why are colmados so popular and what distinguishes them from other shops?
The most important thing is that colmados are available almost everywhere. All towns, cities, villages etc. have at least a couple of them. These colmados are like convenience stores, what means that if you need something quickly, you can just go at the corner and get some basic products or substitutes for them. Of course, if you are looking for more sophisticated products, that is not the best place to look for them.
In colmados you will usually do your shopping quite quickly and will not have long queues. As that are positive aspects, there are some negative too. For example, the choice would be really limited. The standard would be a little bit lower and there is no air-conditioning, what in this climate might be a huge disadventage.
However, that are places where you can feel a real, local atmosphere and where you can be with local people. Vendors are always attentive, helpful, and polite. They treat you as a guest.
But all that is what is visible for a tourist. If you live in the Dominican Republic, you will see much more. Actually, colmados are shops for poorer people. Yes, that is a little bit strange, given the fact that prices are higher there than in a supermarket (as it is in all convenience stores). However, there is one thing that is so important for people who do not have enough money – some of these places accept payment on a weekly basis, what is impossible in big stores. But that is not in every case. If someone comes only for drinks like rum and beer, the payment has to be usually done immediately, as it is in a regular store. Debits are available only for basic products that are hardly available for poorer people. Alcohol definitively is not included in that list.
Another very important thing is, that colmados very often offer a delivery service. Apart from that, as in all local stores, the atmosphere is completely different. You feel like at home. You joke, chat, and share your problems and happiness with the shop tender. For many people, it is really important. While in many Western countries, this aspect is somehow put aside and its value is diminished; here, in Caribbean countries, it plays a significant role. Not only allows and helps it local, alone people feel more needed, but it also socializes the whole small community.
Then, in some colmados you could spend your time like in a bar. There are many people that meet there, have their beer or any other favorite (and almost every time the same) drink, make some shopping and finally, sit down with their friends and play domino or just chat.
