AL RICO CHIVIRICOQUI, COQUI
The term “chiviricoqui” refers to a traditional sweet that was popular in Barceloneta in the ’60s and ’70s.
It was a sweet meringue, often pink and white, served inside a small paper cone or wafer.
It was sold by street vendors who would shout, “Al rico chiviricoqui!” It was a very popular treat among boys and girls that could be bought for one peseta in the ’60s and two pesetas in the ’70s.
We’d stand on our balconies waiting for the vendor to pass by, and as soon as we heard “¡Al rico chiviricoqui!”, we’d ask Mom for a peseta so we could run downstairs. That time between running downstairs and buying it was pure adrenaline—until you ate it and savored it, not even two minutes had passed, and it made you the happiest person around.
They didn’t taste like much, but that’s all the cow could provide. I still remember them—they were so good! They were made of egg whites, sugar, a little vanilla or strawberry extract, and a wafer cone.
Memories of our childhood: “Al Rico Chiviricoqui, coqui.”
