This story was originally published in 2014. Happy Holidays!
Tamales are serious business come Christmas in Costa Rica. Unwrapping the steamed banana-leaf covering of a Costa Rican-style tamal is like opening a present.
But considering the estimated 196 million pairs of tamales eaten during December three tamales per Tico per day, according to a study by the University of Costa Rica maybe the daily ritual of the Advent calendar is a better analogy for how people eat the seasonal treat.
Tamales go deep in Costa Rican culture and they are one of the most accessible ways to tap into your inner Tico, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Market stands, restaurants and groceries around the country sell tamales bundled in sets of two, tied with twine; this is called a