Mexico: Tacos and Tamales
MEXICO is a country in North America, south of the United States. Mexican food is colorful, flavorful, and full of history!
TACOS: Corn or flour tortillas filled with meat, beans, cheese, salsa, and toppings. There are hundreds of types of tacos! Street tacos from Mexico are simple and delicious.
GUACAMOLE: Mashed avocados with lime, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Mexico grows more avocados than any other country!
TAMALES: Corn dough filled with meat or cheese, wrapped in corn husks and steamed. Families make tamales together during holidays — it is a big tradition!
CHURROS: Fried dough sticks coated in cinnamon sugar. Crispy outside, soft inside.
Why these foods? Corn has been grown in Mexico for thousands of years — it is the foundation of Mexican cooking. Mexico's warm climate also grows peppers, tomatoes, avocados, and beans perfectly.
Mexican food is a mix of indigenous (native) and Spanish influences. When Spanish explorers arrived in the 1500s, they brought new ingredients. The mix of old and new created the Mexican cuisine we love today!