A brief history of Mexican food

Mexican food is a result of century-long traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the next. It also reflects the culinary, agricultural, and cultural traditions of the Mexican indigenous people, and how these have been mixed as time has gone by with Spanish ingredients and with ingredients from other parts of the world due to global trade.

Pre-Columbian Era

Mexican cuisine can be traced back to the pre-Columbian era, when the indigenous people cultivated crops such as maize, beans, chilies, squash, and amaranth. These ingredients were the base of the Mesoamerican diet. The Aztecs and the Mayans also developed several cooking techniques such as nixtamalization and grilling.

Fusion of Indigenous and Spanish Ingredients

Over time the mix of indigenous and Spanish ingredients ended up resulting in the creation of the Mexican cuisine that is known today. Because of the herbs, spices, and seasoning flavors that were brought from Spain, new flavors emerged.

Modern Mexican Food

As time passes, modern Mexican cuisine continues to evolve and new techniques and ingredients are added all the time. Foods such as street tacos or “elotes" have gained a lot of popularity around the world, becoming a symbol for Mexico anywhere across the globe.

UNESCO Recognition

In 2010, UNESCO recognized traditional Mexican food as a patrimony of humanity, acknowledging the deep historical and cultural significance of Mexican food.

Mexican food is popular in several countries, and it is easy to find all around the world. Mexican food can be found in Pamplona in restaurants such as “El Mariachi”, “El Mexicano”, “Santa Chula”, or “Mexicano Tecamac”.