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Pandebono

Colombian bread made with cassava starch, cheese, and eggs, often eaten warm

Pandebono is a Colombian bread made from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs, sometimes with guava paste. It is especially popular in the Valle del Cauca region and is usually enjoyed warm, often with hot chocolate. The bread is shaped into rounds or rings and eaten as a snack.

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  • Made from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs
  • Often eaten warm with hot chocolate
  • Common in Colombia's Valle del Cauca region
  • Can be round or ring-shaped
  • Sometimes includes guava paste

What is Pandebono?

Pandebono is a small, round or ring-shaped bread from Colombia. Its main ingredients are cassava starch, cheese, and eggs, with some versions adding guava paste for a sweet touch. The bread is known for its chewy texture and slightly tangy flavor from the cheese. It is often served warm, giving off a mild, cheesy aroma. The outside is lightly golden, while the inside remains soft and moist.

Where does Pandebono come from?

Pandebono comes from Colombia, with strong ties to the Valle del Cauca region. One account traces its name to Hacienda El Bono, a stop for muleteers traveling between Dagua and Cali, where the bread was first made. Local tradition credits a cook named Genoveva for adding cassava starch and cheese to traditional bread, creating a more filling food for workers. Over time, 'pan de El Bono' became known as pandebono.

How is Pandebono made?

To make pandebono, cassava starch is mixed with cheese and eggs to form a dough. In some regions, guava paste is added for a sweet variation. The dough is shaped into small rounds or rings and baked until lightly golden. The bread is typically served warm, just a few minutes after leaving the oven, which enhances its soft, chewy texture.

How and when is Pandebono eaten?

Pandebono is usually eaten as a snack, often paired with hot chocolate. It is popular throughout Colombia, especially in Valle del Cauca, and is enjoyed fresh and warm. People may eat it at home, in bakeries, or on the go. The bread is filling enough to serve as a light meal for workers, but is also a common everyday treat.

Kinds of Pandebono

While the classic pandebono uses cassava starch, cheese, and eggs, some regions add guava paste for a sweet-salty combination. The bread can be shaped into either rounds or rings. Similar breads in Colombia include pan de yuca, and in Brazil, pão de queijo, though each has its own distinct recipe.

What Pandebono means

Pandebono is a staple of Colombian cuisine, especially in the Valle del Cauca region. It is closely linked to local traditions and daily life, often enjoyed with hot chocolate. The bread’s history connects it to the journeys of muleteers and the work of rural cooks, reflecting its roots as a practical, sustaining food.

Questions people ask about Pandebono

What is pandebono made of?

Pandebono is made from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs. In some regions, guava paste is also added for a sweet note.

Where does pandebono come from?

Pandebono comes from Colombia, with a strong association to the Valle del Cauca region.

How is pandebono usually served?

Pandebono is typically served warm, just after baking, and is often enjoyed with hot chocolate.

Is pandebono vegetarian?

Yes, pandebono is vegetarian, as it contains cheese and eggs but no meat or fish.

What does pandebono look and taste like?

Pandebono is small, round or ring-shaped, with a golden crust and a soft, chewy inside. It has a mild, cheesy flavor.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pandebono", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

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