A MAGICAL snack made famous by Disney's latest hit film Encanto has been flying out of the oven at a popular city cafe.
Customers at Francini's Cafe De Colombia in Angel Place have long been fans of the arepas they serve up.
They sell between 200 and 300 of the traditional Colombian snack every month and have seen even more interest since the film was released.
Cafe owner Franicini Osorio said: "We have already had people come in and tell us they have seen them in the film and tried them here.
"I think we are the only place in Worcestershire where you can try them.
"My wife and my boy have watched it and I know it is about my country.
"To be honest it has really made me happy as it tells a positive story about my country which not many do so it helps our reputation.
"It's great to be able to introduce people to our Colombian culture which is what makes our cafe so unique."
Characters in Encanto all have special powers and mum Julieta Madrigal's is to heal people with her food - specifically arepas.
Daughter and main character Mirabel tells her at one point: "You just healed my hand with an arepa con queso."
When we visited Francini's this lunchtime, there were already several of the bread-type snacks heating in the oven.
The most popular version comes with grilled cheese served with prawns, avocado and sundried tomatoes.
Mr Osorio's wife Sandra bakes the arepas from scratch and makes hundreds every month.
They use simple ingredients - salt, water and flour or a special kind of corn flour.
"You can't really buy them from the supermarket so my wife makes them - they are very unique here same as our cafe.
Arepa con queso appreciation post 🫓😍 #Encanto pic.twitter.com/YFNEzO87D8
— Disney's Encanto (@EncantoMovie) November 29, 2021
"They are a traditional breakfast dish in Colombian and you would usually have them with eggs and bacon but really you can have them at any time much like a croissant.
"It is actually amazing because even before the film we had a lot of people trying them.
"They date back to the tribes in the Amazon who always used to eat corn as their main source of food.
"Even before the film came out we had lots of people trying them and they were really popular."
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