A Taste of Mexico: Flammin’ Fajitas

Mexican food is known for their distinguished taste as compare to other food from other countries. By just the smell alone, you can already conclude that this is Mexican by nature. When we say Mexican, the usual food that comes to your mind would be tacos and nachos. A similar dish to taco which is not as famous is the fajita.

Fajita, similar to the taco, is any grilled meat served in a taco on a flour or corn tortilla. This is traditionally both a Mexican and a Tex-Mex cuisine. It originally referred to a certain cut of beef known as skirt steak. Nowadays, variations to the beef or chicken, shrimp, pork and other cuts of beef other than the skirt steak. If you are wondering why it's primarily used skirt steak, it is because dating back to the 1930s when cattle was butchered, it was cut according to certain meat types. Those that were not used like the skirt, were given to Mexican cowboys thus coming up with the fajita. Enough with the meat, what are other condiments to go with the meat? To mention a few are lettuce being shredded, guacamole made of avocado, sour cream, tomatoes, and cheese.

Fajitas were known as a certain cut of meat until Mexican restaurants used such term to refer to that certain dish. Some restaurants nowadays put a twist on it by serving the meat on a hot platter and the condiments and flour tortillas on the sides. It gives the customers a hint that their food is coming once they hear the pan sizzle and the aroma of different spices in the air. So what are you waiting for? Indulge in a very traditional Mexican dish with fajitas. All you need to do is put some meat and condiments over the flour tortilla, roll, and eat!

How Chocolates Came To Be

What would the world be without chocolates? Imagine that. If it weren’t for the creation of chocolate, the world would be cold, boring, and meaningless because chocolate is one of the reasons that the world is a sweet place to live in. For many, it gave meaning to life. When you are down in Dumpster's, you can hide away with a box of chocolates. If you are up in the mood for a celebration, chocolates can make you high. When you are in love, an outward expression can be given chocolates. Clearly, the world is a better place to live in thanks to chocolate.

But have you ever wondered where chocolate really originated? Belgium is known across the world to have produced the most delicious chocolates. But did it start there? As far as history takes you, it actually came from Mexico dating back to 1100 BC. Cacao trees have been cultivated in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America for almost 3 millennia already. It was known to be Nahuatl to the Mesoamericans including the Aztecs which meant bitter water. Cacao seeds are so bitter that you need to ferment it before it is dry, peeled, and finally grounded. This is what you refer to as chocolate in its pure form. This is then usually put into a liquefied form and molded with or without the use of other ingredients. This has become a beverage or an ingredient to food for the Mesoamericans.

But the Europeans put another kick into it. They sweetened and fattened it by using sugar and milk. Mesoamericans were not aware of such. Rather than drinking it or using it as an ingredient, they tagged it as a dessert. And that is a short history of how the chocolate came to be. Cheers to both the Mesoamericans and Europeans for a job well done!

The People And Languages Of Mexico

Mexico is home to the largest number of native Spanish speakers on the planet as well as a large number of residents who speak indigenous languages. The cultures, religions, and customs of the many indigenous people add to the wealth of Mexican culture.

An estimated 113 million people live in Mexico and the majority of them speak Spanish as their first language. However, there are many different ethnic groups which are commonly referred to under the umbrella term “Mexican”, some of which have their own languages. The majority of Mexicans have a mixed heritage of European settlers and indigenous peoples. The indigenous groups that continue to thrive in Mexico are mostly located in the southern and central parts of the country such as the Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Oaxaca. Some of the most populous indigenous groups are the Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Otomi, and Nahua. Although the history of all of these diverse groups contributes notably to world heritage, the reality is that life is difficult for many of these native populations.

Over 5% of the national population speaks an indigenous language in addition to Spanish; just over 1% of the national population speaks exclusively an indigenous tongue. This massive diversity is recognized by the government which has used the Law of Indigenous Linguistic Rights to establish national languages and recognize native languages on the same level as Spanish since 2003. The government’s National Institute of Indigenous Languages has identified 68 different linguistic groups into which it organizes 364 different variations on those tongues. Clearly, cultural and linguistic diversity is a part of world heritage that Mexico shares with the international community.