Consumers are demanding more nutrients and less sugar and fat in what they eat, without this meaning that the products are diet products.
This new trend has caused companies to try to make changes in the make up of their products in order to make them healthier, however, this change could take years.
"This is the future of the food industry, today it is not much but consumers are learning and demand will keep growing ," said Mario Montero, executive vice president of the Chamber of Food Industry (Cacia).
The sophistication of Costa Rican society has brought about a marked increase in tea consumption, evident on the supermarket shelves where tea is occupying more and more space.
In an article on Elfinacierocr.com, one businessman recounts his venture in launching tea in a very established coffee market.
With a growth of 200% over the past 5 years, the consumption of tea in all its varieties has achieved increasing popularity in Costa Rica.
During 2008-2009 crisis, wine imports fell to less than $14 million, before peaking at $15 million in 2010, and then continued to increase during 2011, with $9 million being recorded in the first half of the year.
An increase in the consumption of wine originating mainly from Chile, Argentina, Spain and Italy, has prompted the emergence of specialist shops with a wide range of products, from glasses and decanters to literature on the subject.
Over the past ten years, wine consumption has almost doubled to 262,900 liters in 2010.
The import figures reflect this growth, rising from $1.2 million in 1994 to $6.8 million in 2010, according to the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat.
"... 10 percent of Guatemala's population consume some type of wine, a fact which shows that this drink has been democratized and is no longer exclusive to affluent families." said Jorge Solis, manager of the distributer Corchos to Elperiodico.com.gt
In the first two months of 2010 the country imported a total 732 tons of cheese; 46% accounted for cheese for consumption, and the rest for industrial uses.
In comparison, in the same period of 2009, Panama imported 1.017 tons, but only 34% accounted for cheese intended for consumption, with the rest being used for industrial purposes (mainly for producing yellow cheese).