Traditional Mexican cuisine is so much more than authentic dishes and spices; it’s a vibrant, lovingly preserved, cultural heritage.
Handcrafted recipes passed down for generations…
Planting and harvesting native ingredients such as corn and chile peppers in chinampas…
Manually grinding grain for tortillas on stone and mortar…
Traditional Mexican cuisine embraces an entire heritage of culture dedicated to maintaining Mexico’s indigenous customs and cultural traditions.
So much so in fact, it’s now internationally recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Traditional Cuisine!
The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexican Cuisine
Identified by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a “comprehensive cultural model comprising farming, ritual practices, age-old skills, culinary techniques and ancestral community customs and manners,” in 2010 traditional Mexican cuisine was officially Inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
UNESCO further defines Intangible Heritage as “the practices, representations, expressions,
as well as the knowledge and skills (including instruments, objects, artefacts, cultural spaces), that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage.”
What could be more representative of such a heritage than the rich tradition of Mexican cuisine?
But What, Exactly, Is Traditional Mexican Cuisine?
First and foremost, traditional Mexican cuisine only applies to authentic Mexican dishes. Even as close to the border as we are in San Diego, most Mexican food served in the U.S. is far from authentic or traditional. Burritos, chili con carne, chimichangas, hardshell tacos and enchiladas (as we know them in the U.S.), queso dip, nachos . . . all Tex-Mex.
Even fajitas are a Tex-Mex invention (offered to tourists in Mexico now because so many Americans associate fajitas as authentic).
Tex-Mex is a cuisine only very loosely related to Mexican cuisine. Invented by early Texas settlers, Tex-Mex was inspired by, and adapted from, Mexican cooking, however the ingredients and culinary practices associated with traditional Mexican cuisine aren’t at all a part of this U.S.-based type of “Mexican” food.
In contrast, most authentic Mexican food derived from a combination of ancient Aztec, Mayan and Spanish traditions. Quoting Cristina Potters of Mexico Cooks!, “There are specific recipes to follow, specific flavors and textures to expect, and specific results to attain. Yes, some liberties are taken, particularly in Mexico’s new ‘alta cocina’ (haute cuisine) and fusion restaurants, but even those liberties are based on specific traditional recipes.” For example, the traditional dish of “…carne de puerco en chile verde–as served in the North of Mexico, in the Central Highlands, or in the Yucatán. There may be big variations among the preparations of this dish, but each preparation is traditional and each is authentic in its region.”
Here are a few key signature aspects of traditional Mexican cuisine to help you distinguish authentic Mexican from Tex-Mex dishes:
- fresh and healthy ingredients such as tomatoes, chiles, not jars of store-bought salsa for example
- traditional spices (such as coriander and epazote) instead of cumin or dry oregano
- maize-based tortillas, not wheat tortillas
- soft tacos, not crisp taco shells
- white cheese (like cotija or fresh cheese) instead of yellow (cheddar) cheese
- cooked corn grains and complete corn cobs rather than salsas and dishes with sweet corn as an ingredient
- frijoles prepared from scratch, not Americanized refried beans
Authentic Mexican Food
Traditional Mexican Cuisine North of the Border?
Yes, you can actually find authentic, traditional Mexican cuisine in the U.S., just not at Taco Bell or Chili’s…
Aqui es Texcoco is proud to be forwarding Mexico’s cultural heritage of traditional cuisine by bringing authentic Mexican barbacoa to our restaurants in California. Every dish is traditionally prepared using recipes and culinary methods steeped in the heritage of Mexico.
Learn more about our traditional Barbacoa de Borrego, and visit one of our nationally acclaimed restaurants today.
PS: Did you know Texcoco caters too? Bring Mexico’s traditional heritage to your next event!
I'm an enthusiast with a deep appreciation for traditional Mexican cuisine, backed by a profound understanding of its cultural significance and historical roots. The article you shared highlights the rich heritage of traditional Mexican cuisine, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This designation encompasses farming practices, ritual traditions, age-old skills, culinary techniques, and ancestral customs.
The essence of traditional Mexican cuisine lies in handcrafted recipes passed down through generations, the cultivation of native ingredients like corn and chile peppers in chinampas, and the manual grinding of grain for tortillas on stone and mortar. It embodies a commitment to preserving Mexico's indigenous customs and cultural traditions.
UNESCO defines Intangible Heritage as practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage. Traditional Mexican cuisine perfectly fits this definition, representing a comprehensive cultural model that goes beyond mere recipes—it includes the entire cultural tapestry associated with the cuisine.
The article draws a clear distinction between authentic Mexican dishes and Tex-Mex, emphasizing that traditional Mexican cuisine is rooted in ancient Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish traditions. It quotes Cristina Potters, stating that authentic Mexican food follows specific recipes, flavors, and textures, with variations that are regionally authentic.
Key aspects differentiating authentic Mexican cuisine from Tex-Mex include the use of fresh and healthy ingredients, traditional spices like coriander and epazote, maize-based tortillas, soft tacos instead of crisp shells, white cheese (such as cotija or fresh cheese) over yellow cheese, and the preparation of frijoles from scratch rather than Americanized refried beans.
The article concludes by highlighting that authentic, traditional Mexican cuisine can be found in the U.S., but not at mainstream establishments like Taco Bell or Chili's. It promotes "Aqui es Texcoco" as an example of a restaurant preserving Mexico's cultural heritage by offering authentic Mexican barbacoa prepared using traditional recipes and culinary methods.
In essence, traditional Mexican cuisine is not just about the food; it's a living cultural heritage that connects generations and reflects the diverse influences that have shaped Mexico's culinary traditions.
