In Puerto Rico, the Christmas season is accompanied by traditional dishes like arroz con gandules, lechón asado, and pasteles. Recently, a social media post advertising pasteles for $60 a dozen sparked controversy. However, a survey by Primera Hora found that the price of pasteles in Puerto Rico ranges from $20 to $35 a dozen, with some vendors mentioning prices up to $40.
Lis Díaz, a vendor in Florida, clarified that her 'dominicanos’ pasteles are priced at $60 a dozen due to high production costs. In contrast, local vendors like Marisol Valentín in Añasco sell pasteles for $20-$22 a dozen, while Marleen Villafañe in Moca sells 'Pasteles Bori-Kua' for $25 a dozen. Some vendors, like Jesica Diodonet Hernández in Guánica, have increased their prices due to rising production costs, from $25 to $30 a dozen.
Santos Rodríguez Alcántara in Caguas sells pasteles for $30 a dozen, with an additional delivery fee.