Great ice cream is hard to find in Costa Rica and great cheese is even harder to find. Monteverde
is the answer to our cheese and ice cream deficiency problem.
Established by Quakers in the early 50’s, the Monteverde factory is where all the creamy lactose goodness comes from. In 1954, Monteverde factory was the first to produce pasteurized cheese in Costa Rica thus setting the tone for the quality and originality that continue to characterize Monteverde products.
If you plan a visit to Monteverde, a tour of the cheese factory is a must. We watched from the other side of a large glass window as the cream and milk were churned and slowly turned into wonderful cheese. After a quick look we headed over to the store attached to the factory. At the store we saw the widest variety of cheese we’ve ever seen in one place since we moved here and the ice cream parlor in the store is the best we’ve been to here. My personal favorite is the Coffee, macadamia and coconut milkshake. And no, they do not charge extra for the third flavor. Awesome.
But who wants to drive on a bumpy, rocky, winding road all the way to Monteverde just for cheese and ice cream. The answer is that you don’t have to. Most supermarkets will at least have some Monteverde goodies on hand. The best option, aside from the factory, is a visit to the Monteverde restaurant along highway 1 on the way to Guanacaste. Pricey meals prepared with delicious Monteverde products are the order of the day at this restaurant/ice cream parlor, and well worth the price.
Many towns have their very own little Monteverde Ice cream parlors where you can get your Monteverde fix. I usually get mine at Heladeria Monteverde in Liberia. The ice cream is rich and creamy and the best ice cream I’ve ever had in Costa Rica.
Is Monteverde your favorite? Have another local ice cream favorite? Leave a comment!
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