|
Cuisine and History
Mexico is a huge country, stretching for almost two thousand miles from north to south. It has a fascinating history of ancient cultures, a rugged topography with breathtaking scenery and is rich in biodiversity.
Food has always played an important role in the ceremonial and ritual life of the pre Hispanic cultures of Mexico – the Olmec, Maya, Zapotecs and Aztecs. When the Spanish arrived in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan (the ancient city on which Mexico City was built) the people's diet consisted largely of corn based dishes with chillies and herbs. The conquistadores combined their imported rice, beef, pork, chicken, garlic and onions with the indigenous foods of pre Columbian Mexico including chillies, chocolate, maize, tomato, vanilla, avocado, papaya, pineapple, beans, squash sweet potato and nuts.
Most of today's Mexican cuisine is based on pre-hispanic traditions combined with culinary trends introduced by the Spanish. In Mexico food varies by region because of local climate and geography. The North is known for beef and other meat dishes, south eastern Mexico is known for its spicy vegetables and chicken based dishes and seafood is commonly prepared in the style of Veracruz.
A distinction must be made between the truly authentic Mexican Food and Tex Mex which is a more basic version developed in the USA. The Mexican cuisine extends much further in variety and quality than Americanised Tex Mex and here at Sabores Aztecas we are passionate about introducing authentic Mexican cuisine around the world.
The main ingredients in Sabores Aztecas are chillies, tomatoes, nopales and surprisingly chocolate.
|
