Tamales: A Popular Traditional Food in Mexico

Tamales: A Popular Traditional Food in Mexico

At least three times a week, Mexico City bus driver Nicolás Cuatencos purchases a kind of tamale known as "guajolota," or "turkey."

The food is made of corn dough¹ and filled with meat, bean and cheese. Tamales are then wrapped in corn husks, the green leaves outside an ear of corn, or banana leaves for cooking.

Cuatencos has loved the dish since childhood. "The flavor², the dough, all of that is really good," a smiling Cuatencos said recently.

But tamales are not only tasty and a good way to fuel the workday. They also carry lovely memories for millions of people like Cuatencos. He remembers his grandmother preparing tamales for family celebrations and religious events like Candlemas Day on February 2.

Connection to tradition

Tamale buying on February 2 has a connection to an earlier holiday. Mexican tradition holds that the tamale buyer on February 2nd is the person who finds the baby Jesus figure in the Rosca de Reyes cake that is eaten on Three Kings Day on January 6.

Tamales date to pre-Hispanic times. Ancient civilizations such as Olmecs, Mexicas and Mayas prepared them for religious offerings and even placed them in special burial areas.

Tamales are eaten in several neighboring countries under other names like "humita," "pamonhas," "hallaca" and "guanime." But the number of tamales in Mexico is unmatched, said chef and food researcher Ricardo Muñoz Zurita. He has identified 25 families of tamales in Mexico, which themselves have many different kinds based on ingredients⁴, wrappings and size.

The tradition comes from a time when farmers would bring their ears of corn to the church for blessings⁵. That would bring good luck for future crop plantings.

"The popularity⁶ of the tamal is so great that I don't think they're going to stop making them in this century because it is not an isolated⁷ dish, there is a total tamal culture," Muñoz Zurita said.

Just like his parents and grandparents did, Cuatencos said he will gather with his wife, children and other relatives on Thursday to celebrate Candlemas.

"My kids found the figurine in the cake, but I will bring the tamales," he said, adding that it is his way of passing the tradition on to his children. "Tamales are going to survive many generations because they are passed from generation to generation."

Words in This Story

dough – n. a mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients that is baked to make bread, cookies, etc.

wrap – v. to cover (something) by winding⁸ or folding a piece of material around it

flavor – n. the quality of something that you can taste

ingredient³ -- n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.

isolated -- adj. separate from others; happening in different places and at different times

figurine – n. a small figure or model of a person made of wood, plastic, etc.

1 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

2 flavor   

n.味，滋味，味道；风味；vt.调味，加味于

参考例句：

• I like the flavor of chocolate.我喜欢巧克力的味道。
• Each flavor was totally unique.每一种味道都是独一无二的。

3 ingredient   

n.（烹饪）等的材料，原料，成分，因素

参考例句：

• The basic ingredient of this meal is rice.这一餐的主要原料是大米。
• Trust is a key ingredient.信任是关键要素。

4 ingredients   

n.（混合物的）组成部分( ingredient的名词复数 )；（烹调的）原料；（构成）要素；因素

参考例句：

• All ingredients are readily available from your local store. 所有的原料都可以方便地从你当地的商店买到。
• We never use second quality ingredients to build building. 我们决不使用次等材料用于建筑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

7 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

8 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。