Mexican gourmet food is every connoisseur’s delight. The use of exotic ingredients, the freshest spices and herbs and the most colorful preparations, make this Latin American country one of the most fascinating and varied places for delectable culinary adventures. With the culmination of different cultures, starting with the Aztecs and the Mayans, and later the Germans and the Spaniards, Mexico has mixed influences in its culture and cuisine. Mexican cuisine is considered to be one of the most varied, in terms of ingredients and variations. Cheese was never an indigenous produce of Mexico. It was introduced by the Spanish conquerors, but today, there are more than forty different varieties of cheeses produced all over Mexico.
Cultural diversity reflects in Mexican gourmet food
Owing to Mexico’s large land area, the food is different in different regions, and is dependent on the geography, local climate and the ethnic differences indigenous inhabitants have. The Spaniards influenced different populations differently.
What can you expect in Northern Mexico?
Northern Mexico is famous for its ostrich, goat and beef production, and its meat dishes, specially, the famous ‘arrachera cut’. ‘Carne asada’ or grilled meat is another item that has popularized the northern region. This dish is made up of beef steaks that are very thin and cooked in Worcestershire sauce, pepper salt, lime and lemon. The meat is marinated with sea salt and olive oil. This dish is popular in Tamaulipas, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Baja California, Sonora and Baja California Sur.
What you can expect in Southeastern Mexico?
Chicken-based and spicy vegetable dishes are staple foods in Southeastern Mexico. ‘Cochinita pibil’, a traditional pork dish that is slow-roasted, is indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula. The southeastern part of Mexico has a strong Caribbean influence due to its geographic location. In the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, seafood is usually prepared. In villages, more exotic Mexican gourmet food is prepared according to the Mayan or Aztec style. There, ingredients tend to be wilder, from rattlesnake to iguana, spider monkey, deer, ant eggs, corn fungus, chapulines and other insects.
Mexico holds international rights to the word “tequila”
According to Mexican laws, tequila production is legally limited to Jalisco and other states like Nayarit, Michoacan, Guanajuato and Tamaulipas. The country has the exclusive right to use the word “tequila” internationally. The purest and finest tequila is believed to have originated from Jalisco’s highlands and is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. Mexican gourmet food, its beverages and exotic dishes make this federation one of the most fascinating and exciting places on the planet.
If you can’t wait to dig into Mexican gourmet food, try the wide range of products available at an authentic food store.
