THE GUIDE TO TORIO GROCERIES
- terrajungla
- May 1
- 6 min read
Groceries - depending how you look at things, your grocery run on the Azuero Sunset Coast will either be one of your favorite parts of living here, or one of your bigger challenges.
It all depends on what's on your list.
"Eat well, feel good" is definitely the predominant philosophy here. For many neighbors, life on the Sunset Coast is a life of balancing incredible local ingredients, with weekly or bimonthly trips to Santiago, around an hour and a half away.
When you know where to source quality items, and what is available locally, sourcing your food becomes an adventure, and a lifestyle, rather than a one-stop shop.
Life on the Azuero Sunset Coast is a life of trading (upgrading):
Convenience for authenticity
Packaged food for freshly grown
Plastic bags for freshly baked
Bought from a grocery store for "Bought from a neighbor."
You won't find all the brands you're used to, but you will find the food you didn't know you craved.
Made by real people.
With real ingredients.
Food rooted in place.
That nourishes your body and soul.
And the real shift? It's not just what you eat and what you can find; it's about reconnecting with where food comes from, how food is made, and how it nourishes your body.
It's about simple ingredients, and learning to cook what is available. It's about embracing the land where you live, and living in a way that reflects the surrounding landscape.
When you're eating fish from that morning, paired with fruit from the tree down the road, and with freshly baked bread, you've moved beyond simple fuel. Meals become moments.
While part of the magic is in learning to source these items yourself, here is a brief overview of what is available on our beautiful coast, to gently guide you on your journey.
Minisupers in Mariato Mariato is easily the largest town on the coast, and you will find several, well-stocked small grocery stores. While the vast majority of the selection is local brands and staples, the grocery stores are slowly improving their offerings and have paid attention to frequently requested items, to the point where you can now find items such as: craft beers, some specialty foods, and a few unexpected items. While not a full stop shop, they are getting better. Bread
For bread, you can easily find a variety of the local more industrial types of bread at the grocery stores in Mariato. "Pan de Molde" is sandwich bread, "pan de huevo" (similar to sandwich bread, enriched with eggs) is also very common, and for bread-type snacks, you can try "rosquitas" (round hard baked dough, typically eaten with coffee), and "mafá" (salty twisted pretzel-like fried dough).
If you are seeking artisanal bread, we have two incredible options.
Broed Nordic Bakery: artisan style sourdough loaves, ciabattas, brioche breads and pastries. Thea typically bakes 1-2x a week and dates are announced on her social media platforms.
Panaderia Más Amor: Nora generally bakes every Wednesday, with deliveries in Torio Plaza. She offers rustic wood-fired sourdough and poolish-fermented breads.
Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits and veggies are easier, as there are several little veggie stands around the coast. In Mariato, there are two, and Torio has a small one at the entrance. Finally, there are also fruit delivery trucks that come by on a weekly basis.
For pitahaya, coconuts/pipas, and more exotic fruits, Finca CocoMambo in Mariato is worth a visit.
For fresh herbs, there is no place like Ray's Garden in Torio. His property is bursting with basil, kale, arugula, cilantro, spinach, and many other exotic herbs, at unbeatable prices.
Fruit trees are abundant in the area, and when in season, most neighbors will be happy to share or barter their abundance.
Pantry, Ferments & Preserves
Every Wednesday, Roberto offers "Robimchi" for delivery in Torio Plaza, his own spin on fermented kimchi. Packed with probiotics and local plants, this is a great, gut-friendly specialty item that is locally made.
"Del TerriTorio" is a local brand, also by Nora, that offers pesto, dried tomatoes, and other preserves, once a month at Torio Market. At that same market, you can find "El Conde de Torio" jams, marmalades, and preserves made with local fruit and vegetables, right here in Torio.
The most common sweetener in our area is called "Miel de Caña", which is Cane Syrup or Sugarcane Honey, which results from the boiling down of sugarcane juice, until it becomes a thick, dark and richly flavored honey-like syrup. There are several "trapiches" that make this delicacy, and "Molienda Doña Ilda" even offers tours of the process. "Raspadura" (also known as panela) are little sweet discs that are meant to be dissolved into juice. They are also derived from sugar cane and can be purchased at the local veggie stands or grocery stores.
Coconut Oil is locally made both in Malena and Mariato, and can frequently be purchased in most small towns on the coast.
For honey, most of it comes from Santiago and surrounding areas. It is almost always available at the monthly Torio Market.
Cacao and Cacao Nibs are available for sale at Amazilia Farms, in Torio, with a selection of other pantry items.
Homegoods: Soap, Shampoo, Cleaning & Gift Boxes
Artisanal goat milk soap can be purchased at Amazilia Farms, where it is made locally in Torio. The all-natural soap is offered unscented or scented with essential oils, and it can be purchased by shape or weight. They also make solid shampoo bars, as well as other cleaning products and specialty items (in regular, bulk, or ammenity sizes). There is a Farm Shop on-site, where you can shop both their own handmade goods, as well as a selection of curated items. On Saturdays, they offer a Café menu, so this is a good day to stock up on your shopping list.
Dairy & Eggs
For dairy, there are many options, but they vary depending on which part of the coast you live. Local farms will sell their milk either in person or via delivery routes.
Aprisco Mis Cabritas 09 typically delivers their full goat-milk dairy menu to your door twice a month, one of those being the weekend of the Torio Market (last weekend of the month). They offer yogurt, pasteurized goat milk, fresh cheese, kefir and more.
Natalia, from Casa Blanca in Torio, frequently makes homemade greek yogurt, available by order.
Eggs are easy, as each town has its own source of "huevos de patio", fresh "backyard eggs", typically from hens kept in the back patio of a neighbor's house. Ask around and you will quickly be pointed to the source closest to you.
Fish & Seafood
This is where the coast truly shines. The best way to buy seafood and fish, is early in the mornings at Malena and Palo Seco beach as the fishermen come in. Lobster is available at the entrance of Torio. Palo Seco also has a coop at the port for more regular supply. Shrimp often comes from passing trucks on a weekly basis.
Meat & Poultry
There are several local farmers (sometimes even neighbors) that offer local "pollo de patio" (free-range chicken), beef and pork.
Manuel Rios, "The Meat Guy" offers specialty cuts and gourmet meats, both national and imported: artisanal sausages, ossobuco, smoked bacon, filet mignon, just to name a few of his frequently available cuts.
At Plaza El Bramador, in Quebro, you will also find a selection of meat and poultry in their freezers.
The Santiago Run
And then, of course, Santiago. Specialty olive oils, nicer flours, and anything a little bit of the ordinary can typically be found in Santiago, or ordered in from other parts of the country. Most neighbors will go on a regular basis, with the frequency varying depending on their lifestyle. Part errand, part opportunity to change the scenery and restock on some bulk items.
Organica Store
Laslty, a special mention to Organica Store, a local chain of stores spread out throughout Panama. While we don't have one close (closest one would be in Coronado), they offer shipping and will deliver to your home, right here on the Sunset Coast. They have the country's widest selection of organic goods, and cater to many people seeking specialty ingredients. The Reality
Sourcing your groceries on the Azuero Sunset Coast is part of the lifestyle. It's not so much a one-stop shop, so much as an opportunity to go with the flow, and learn to cook what is available here. Grabbing your weekly bread order is a chance to chat with neighbors. Purchasing fish straight off the boat will result in the most incredible meals.
You source as the week unfolds. You adjust.
And somewhere in that process, you realize, that this was always how we were meant to live.
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