Watermelons are also considered sweeter if they produce a firm rather than a hollow sound. The best watermelons come from the hot coastal zones. One of the nicest parts of driving to Jaco is stopping at the fruit stands in Orotina for a delicious sandia ( Watermelon).

Don't make the mistake of a friend of ours who, on a hot San Jose afternoon, came home with what he thought was a delicious, red, juicy watermelon. "And what a bargain!" he said as he thirstily cut into the chiverre , only to find a mass of whitish spaghetti-like pulp. Chiverre looks just like a watermelon from the outside. You'll see them sold on the roadsides during Semana Santa . Their pulp is candied with tapa dulce to make special Easter treats.

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