Chillies & Spice and all things nice

Mexico’s distinctive range of crops has determined its diet and influenced cuisine worldwide

NT Features

Do you crave burritos and quesadillas every once in a while? Does the Mexican way of food tickle your tongue? Feisty, vibrant and mysterious, Mexico is a country rich in its culinary history, with food being a significant portion of its culture and traditions.

The cuisine not just portrays their diverse landscape, and the countless crops produced, but it also puts to display the links to cultures dating back centuries, ranging from the early civilization of the Aztecs and Mayas to modern Europe. Over the decades, cuisines of the Caribbean, South America, French, West Africa and Portuguese have all had their influence on the Mexican style of cooking.

One of the country’s oldest crops, corn, continues to shape Mexican diets. The presence of this grain makes a dish eminently Mexican. Today, Mexico’s delicious food is devoured across the world, continuing to influence menus in other cultures.

Many dread Mexican food for being overly spicy because of the flamboyant use of chilies, while most love that no one celebrates their chilies like Mexico does. You can also munch on a churro dipped in chocolate sauce if any ingredient turns out too hot!