FOOD AND EMBLEMS

Food

The department is also recognized for its cuisine. Famous regional dishes include:

The Tamal Tolimense, yellow rice with yellow pea, egg, chicken and vegetable filling, wrapped inside a plantain leaf that taste delicious.

Tamal tolimense de la fabrica de @Callmeperez en la.[Photography]. 20th April  of 2015. Taken from: http://l4c.me/fotos/Tifa/tamal-tolimense-de-la-fabrica-de-callmeperez-en-la

The Lechona, a mixture of rice with peas and pork meat with even some pig leather.

Edwineitorx(207) [Photography]. 20th April  of 2015. Taken from: http://www.preciolandia.com/co/lechoneria-lechona-para-eventos-platos-p-6ti2mf-a.html

Empanadas, small potato, rice and ground beef, made with corn dough.

Empanadas de carne. (2015) Knor. [Photography]. 31^st May of 2015. Taken from: http://www.knorr.com.co/receta/detalle/8843/1/empanadas-de-carne

Bizcocho calentano, they are small pastries.

kunstmacher, (2009) Tostados. [Photography]. 20th April of 2015.  Taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naam07/4229926236/

Quesillo, is a type of cheese wrapped in a plantain leaf. Most of times with something sweet and delicious called bocadilllo and that is a lot eaten here in Colombia accompanied with cheese. Oftentimes called quesadilla in some other places.

Cocinasemana.com. Los quesos Colombianos. [Photography]. 20th April of 2015.  Taken from: http://www.cocinasemana.com/edicion-impresa/ingredientes/articulo/-los-colombianos/20291

Also, in drinks is included the Avena, a cold and refresh oatmeal-based drink.

Millan, M. P.; Venegas, L. A. (November 10th, 2010) Avena. Comidacolombiana7's Blog. [Photography]. 20th April of 2015.  Taken from: https://comidacolombiana7.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/avena/

Emblems

The anthem from Tolima is the same famous song “Bunde Tolimense” written by Alberto Castilla and Nicanor Velázquez.

Fibonacci. (28th November, 2006). Flag of Tolima [Photography]. 20th April of 2015.  Taken from http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandera_del_Tolima#/media/File:Flag_of_Tolima.svg

The flag composed by wine red over gold.Those stripes represent, history and honors from Tolima, where the wine red symbolizes the blood spread by heroes from Tolima in the different battles for our independence. And yellow or gold means wealth overall mines from the region. It was adopted in 1968.

Shadowxfox. (25^th October, 2009). Escudo del Tolima [Photography]. 20th April of 2015.  Taken from http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolima#/media/File:Escudo_del_Tolima.svg

The coat of arms is the most important emblem from Tolima. Adapted from the “Estado Libre de Mariquita”, on December 7th, 1815, it has the same meaning since it was used in Mariquita state. First, composed by a little red mortarboard that means freedom. In the red part a flustered gold swan raising a torch with one paw and a key in its beak. In the middle is a silver band that means Magdalena River that divides the department, being the most important river in Tolima, and in Colombia. Below, there is a landscape with some snow-capped mountains and a river crossing through them, showing the beautiful Tolima nature. Finally it is supported by two leaves of a cinnamon tree, a famous tree in Tolima. And a belt with the national flag colors.