6 Surprising Foods that Mexico Introduced to the World
6 Surprising Foods that Mexico Introduced to the World
With a diverse food culture and vibrant heritage, Mexico is home to many well-loved dishes. From the obvious tacos and quesadillas to chilaquiles and pozole, delicious Mexican cuisine has become a widespread staple that’s found its way into many households and restaurants around the world.
But did you know that ancient Mexico is also the birthplace of many widely used, core ingredients like chocolate and corn?
Many of these essential, daily food staples can be traced back to the Mayan and Aztec empires. Here are 5 less obvious foods that Mexico introduced to the world.
1. Corn
Corn is a versatile ingredient used in many foods, from ketchup and popcorn, to breakfast cereals and sweeteners. You might think corn was from the native American peoples of North America but it actually originated from a wild grass called teosinte in ancient Mexico. This crop eventually came to be known as maize, the corn we’re familiar with today. In early Mexico, maize was considered sacred and associated with many deities. Maize crops spread throughout North America, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus brought them across the Atlantic and to Europe.
Now, there are 60 different varieties of corn grown across the country. In Mexican cuisine, corn is used in everything from tortillas and tamales, to a base for hot beverages served with cinnamon or vanilla.
2. Cacao
Mexico is also the birthplace of a very popular food - chocolate! The origins of the cocoa bean are rooted in Mexico, with the Aztecs even using the beans as a form of currency. The Aztec and Mayan cultures were the first to cultivate cacao, fermenting, roasting and grinding the beans of the cacao plant to make the first version of what we would call hot chocolate, Xocolatl.
During the Spanish conquest, cacao was exported to the rest of the world, where sugar and honey were added to offset the bitter flavor.
3. Vanilla
The natural sweetness and complexity of tequila’s countless aromas is the perfect way to enhance the flavors of food, when paired correctly.
Invite over friends and family and go on a tequila and culinary journey. Start with light appetizers, like a delicious ceviche, and pair it with the bright agave profile of a Silvera. Then move onto a grilled meat or vegetable main dish paired with Reposado, before a delicious dark chocolate mousse or other dessert paired with Añejo.
4. Pumpkin
An Autumnal favorite, pumpkin has become a popular food (and flavor and scent!) that got its origins in Mexico. Known as calabaza, the original pumpkins were small and bitter, but their hard exteriors were ideal for surviving the harsh winters of the region. So, they became an integral part of their diet, where every element of the pumpkin was used or consumed. The flesh of the plant was used in savory dishes, the seeds were salted and roasted, and the rind was carved into drinking vessels. Even the flowers were used, often stuffed and served as a main course, or ground into filling for tacos.
When the Spaniards first came, the explorers were served a food called papadzules, a corn tortilla dipped in pumpkin seed sauce. The Spaniards then brought the calabaza to Europe, where it diversified over several centuries.
5. Avocado
The superstar food for the health and beauty conscious, this creamy fruit is native to the land of Mexico. In fact, avocados can be traced back over 10,000 years to what is known today as Puebla, Mexico. Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a delicacy and aphrodisiac, recognized as a sign of love and fertility.
Avocado trees are thought to have been domesticated 5,000 years ago, making the domesticated species as old as the invention of the wheel!
6. Chili Pepper
The superstar food for the health and beauty conscious, this creamy fruit is native to the land of Mexico. In fact, avocados can be traced back over 10,000 years to what is known today as Puebla, Mexico. Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a delicacy and aphrodisiac, recognized as a sign of love and fertility.
Avocado trees are thought to have been domesticated 5,000 years ago, making the domesticated species as old as the invention of the wheel!
Mexican culture has had far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on the rest of the world, from their flavorful foods to being the birthplace of much-loved spirits like tequila and mezcal. Part of a great culinary and cultural heritage, these agave spirits carry on a legacy that have lasted hundreds of years. By working with local (although world-renowned) industry veterans and partnering with generationally-owned palenques, PaQuí Tequila and Lejana Y Sola aim to uphold and pay homage to their traditional roots and methods while creating a spirit that is refined, smooth and delicious.
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