Cuenca Crowns Its First RompeNucas Fest Champions From the Narancay, 12 de Abril and 10 de Agosto Markets
Cuenca Crowns Its First RompeNucas Fest Champions
Cuenca's traditional markets had a moment in the spotlight this October as the city wrapped up its first-ever RompeNucas Fest. The inaugural event concluded on October 2 at Mercado 9 de Octubre, bringing together vendors, judges, and municipal officials to celebrate a drink that has long been a quiet staple of everyday market life: rompenucas.
For generations, rompenucas has been poured from humble stalls in markets across the city, rarely drawing attention beyond its loyal regulars. This new festival gave that tradition a formal stage, with vendors from markets including Narancay, 12 de Abril, and 10 de Agosto competing for recognition in categories designed to honor both heritage and creativity.
What Is Rompenucas?
Rompenucas is a cold beverage built around a simple but beloved combination: milk, coconut, vanilla essence, and ice. It's the kind of drink many cuencanos grew up with, sold by vendors who've perfected their own versions over years, often passed down within families or learned through long stints working market stalls.
The beverage's deep roots in the city's traditional market culture made it a natural centerpiece for a dedicated festival. Rather than spotlighting a high-end culinary trend, organizers chose to elevate something already woven into daily life, an approach that reflects a broader effort to recognize the everyday craft behind Cuenca's market gastronomy.
Inside the Competition
Eight commerce spaces took part in the inaugural competition, with vendors drawn from several of the city's markets, including Narancay, 12 de Abril, and 10 de Agosto. A jury that included Karina Crespo and chef Andrés Carrillo evaluated the entries, assessing preparations across three distinct categories.
The judged categories were Tradición, Innovación, and Creatividad, a structure meant to reward both the vendors who preserve classic techniques and those pushing the drink in new directions. The format allowed the festival to honor rompenucas as both a living tradition and a canvas for experimentation.
Meet the Winners
In the Tradición category, Oliver Fernando Mejía was recognized for preserving the classic preparation of rompenucas, a nod to the vendors who've kept the original recipe intact over the years.
Gabriela Barzallo took top honors in Innovación, honored for bringing creative twists to the traditional recipe while still keeping its essential character recognizable.
Grace Yanza was celebrated in the Creatividad category, standing out for an approach to presentation and flavor that judges felt pushed the drink in a fresh direction.
Mercado 9 de Octubre, which hosted the culminating event, also received a special honorable mention, recognizing its role as a hub for market gastronomy in the city.
Municipal Vision: Markets as Tourism and Economic Engines
The city's Dirección de Mercados organized the festival in partnership with the Fundación Municipal Turismo para Cuenca, reflecting a coordinated push to link market traditions with tourism strategy.
Subrogate mayor Marisol Peñaloza framed the event around tourism development, pointing to plans for future gastronomic routes that would tie together market visits across the city. Officials described the festival as a way to strengthen cultural identity while also stimulating economic activity for vendors who rarely receive this kind of civic spotlight.
A recurring theme in municipal messaging around the event is the idea that everyday market commerce, often overlooked in favor of more polished tourism offerings, deserves formal recognition and investment. Whether that translates into lasting support for vendors beyond a single festival remains something many observers will be watching.
What's Next for RompeNucas Fest
With its first edition now behind it, there's reason to think RompeNucas Fest could become an annual fixture on Cuenca's cultural calendar. Municipal officials have signaled interest in expanding gastronomic routes that connect the city's traditional markets, potentially building on the momentum generated by this inaugural competition.
Beyond the trophies and titles, the festival's broader significance may lie in what it represents: a chance for the people who've quietly kept market traditions alive, pouring cup after cup of rompenucas, to be seen and celebrated for their craft.