Despite the ongoing political and legal issues in the country, Mexico remains one of the premier tourist destinations in North America, if not the world. And why not? As Never Stop Traveling, a popular online community for those suffering from chronic wanderlust, writes, with Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico satisfies the crowd that wants nothing more than to drink a lot on a beautiful beach. With the ruins of the Yucatan peninsula, the land that once hosted Aztecs fulfills the desires to act like an archaeologist, even for a day. In other words, Mexico has something for everybody.
Of course, not every wonder of this amazing country comes in the form of tourist attractions. Food is rightly seen as the cultural backbone of any country. If you taste the food and come to understand its flavors, in some small way you come to understand the people. That being said, here are four Hispanic foods you need to try on your trip to Mexico, if you want the full experience.
Four Hispanic Foods You’d Be a Fool to Miss on Your Trip to Mexico
- The Wonder That is Flan
- Chilaquiles, Otherwise Known as Real Nachos
- Anything with Mole, Mexico’s Magic Sauce
- Tacos al Pastor
Flan, a custard dessert topped with a layer of caramel, has its routes in Roman Iberia; however, it’s become famous around the world as one of Mexico’s best recetas de postres. If you love sweets, make sure you ask around for the place offering the best flan recipe, whatever part of Mexico you’re taking in.
As Prone to Wander suggests, nachos are actually an American invention, created to suit Texan tastes by Mexican immigrants along the border. If you want a more authentic version of nachos, look no further than chilaquiles. Toasted tortillas are slathered in salsa and piled high with sour cream and shredded, spiced chicken. You’ll never look at nachos the same way again.
Mole, looking something like a chocolate sauce, is one of Mexico’s most ubiquitous condiments. In actuality, Matador Network points out, this magic sauce contains chiles, chocolate, cinnamon, bananas, and a slew of other ingredients. Boiled down and blended together, this makes for a spicy, savory sauce that brings new life to meat, tacos, or just about anything else you could want to eat.
Tacos al Pastor are a type of Hispanic food that have roots outside of Mexico. According to BBC’s Good Food, Lebanese and Syrian immigrants bought Asian spices with them and halal-style pork that is sliced off a spit. This thin slice pork is paired with pineapple, pickled onions, and fresh cilantro, before being stuffed into a handmade corn tortilla for the best taco you’ve ever tasted.
We couldn’t quite fit everything onto our list. Are there any places for tamales or other foods we left out that people need to visit in Mexico? Sound off in the comments below! For more information see this.