Over the past month, Christmas festivities have sparked a significant interest in traditional Colombian gastronomy, particularly in two of the most famous desserts: buñuelo and custard.
To understand how culinary preferences manifest themselves today, A comprehensive analysis of the data returned by Google was conducted TrendsTool that uncovers online behavior about recipes and food trends.
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Through anonymized and aggregated data, the Google platform allows not only the measurement of search volume by region and date, but also the interpretation of cultural convergences and digital habits.
The analysis of the most frequently searched terms shows a collective tendency towards “the custard”which exceeded Buñuelo in consultations by almost 20% during the period examined.
This trend suggests that “ease of preparation” is becoming increasingly popular, an aspect that makes custard an affordable option for families across the country.
The regional results show notable nuances. In departments like Vichada, the preference was unanimous: 100% of registrations go for this homemade flanthat is, the custard attracted all the attention in the area.
A similar phenomenon was observed in Putumayo, Guaviare and Amazonas, where gastronomic practices focused almost exclusively on this dessert. Meanwhile, Buñuelo had its greatest relative strength in Santander, where it attracted 33% of local searches and positioned itself as the leading alternative in the region.
Targeted searches on Google also provide insightful information about motivations and priorities when preparing holiday desserts. The term “homemade vanilla sauce” clearly appears among the most common search queries. A testament to the value that traditional preparation has for families, as well as the desire to reproduce recipes passed down between generations in the home environment.
In addition to this question, the combination “combination of pudding and buñuelos” stands out, an expression of the symbolic importance of these two components together in the celebrations, since they are always popularly used as accompaniments in novenas and family meals.
The healthy approach also has a growing presence. The term “sugar-free pudding” reflects the desire to adapt the recipe to wellness and self-care trends without sacrificing tradition.
Another relevant search is “blackberry candies for custard,” a variant that shows interest in incorporating fruit flavors and differentiated preparations that enrich the Christmas experience. The reference to “how to prepare a custard”, on the other hand, confirms the latent desire to learn techniques or improve the end result, indicating a participatory and self-taught intention within the families.
In contrast, the Buñuelo appears on the digital radar, albeit to a lesser extent. The term “Colombian Buñuelos” stands out, implying a cultural nuance: Although the December dessert is a national icon, its origin refers to European traditions, especially Spain, and its preparation is local with its own ingredients and techniques, which gives it identity and differentiation.
Much of the interest on Google revolves around specialized businesses, as evidenced by searches like “palacio del buñuelo” and “mi buñuelo Medellín.” The analysis shows that the top ten searches related to donuts are mostly about places to buy these donuts, rather than recipes.
This fact is no coincidence. Making donuts at home involves significant technical challenges: the difficulty of achieving the precise point can pose risks, especially for those who have not mastered the art of cooking.
Therefore, a significant portion of searches come from Antioquia, a region with strong roots in the Buñuelo tradition.focus more on purchasing directly from the store than on domestic production.
Examining the most frequently used terms on Google illustrates how digital culture reflects and transforms traditional customs: searches reveal the constant dialogue between tradition, innovation and contemporary trends at the Colombian Christmas table.
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