Contemplating the question – of which region most significantly shaped our current eating habits, historically speaking; three regions come to mind, each with their substantial contributions. Firstly, we have the Middle East, a region that pioneered the baking of bread and the domestication of, among others, goats, sheep, and cows. These early agricultural practices have massively shaped our dietary habits and food supply chain.
Moving further East, we find China to be a culinary powerhouse. They introduced us to rice, a staple ingredient in many cultures today. Moreover, China also gifted us with noodles, later exported to Italy by a man named Marco Polo and Europe as a whole. The difference is that pasta is made with flour that is native to the Mediterranean.
Last but not least, Latin America’s contribution to our contemporary diets cannot be overlooked. They led the cultivation of corn and potatoes, two incredibly versatile ingredients found in countless dishes worldwide. Notice we are not concerned with modern countries because we will start a war between all sorts of countries claiming to be number one in food. History leaves us with fewer contenders and items we can all agree on.
If we’re pinpointing the region most influential to our contemporary eating habits, the spotlight falls on Latin America, particularly Mexico. It’s the birthplace of corn (along with neighboring Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador), an omnipresent ingredient in so many facets of our lives, especially in this industrial age. Whether it’s the food on our plates or even the fuel in our cars, corn is remarkably pervasive. This powerful, versatile crop, indigenous to Mexico and Central America, is the backbone of many if not most of the products we consume or use daily. Immerse yourself further as we embark on a journey to explore this influential country, Mexico. For the people in the neighboring countries that can also claim to have first harvested corn, don’t worry. Your turn is coming soon.
In keeping with the tone of the article, we will concentrate on food-related tours so don’t expect Mexico’s beautiful beaches to be in the spotlight, but think of food centers instead. The best place for food in Mexico is the state of Oaxaca, one of the regions where corn was first cultivated, and the exact location we are visiting in this article.
Think about it, when you’re in beautiful sunny Mexico do you want an indoor museum? It’s best to step into an outdoor museum set on a hilltop, surrounded by buildings that resemble palaces from an old civilization. That’s what Monte Albán is, the perfect outdoor museum, capital of the ancient Zapotec people. This place with its stones and paths tells stories of their architectural genius. Not far from here, another site showcases their exceptional farming knowledge. This region, laden with ancient secrets, gave birth to the delicious Oaxacan food we enjoy today.
"You know my mother She's your mother too cause this here planet Gave birth to me and you"
Carlos Santana is a Mexican-born musician who was extremely popular in the 1970s with the rock band Santana, he was reborn again in the 90s becoming even more popular with his hit single ‘Smooth‘. The artist’s birthplace is the Pacific Ocean side state of Jalisco, Mexico, known mainly as the birthplace of Tequila, and Mariachi music, and the location of Mexico’s version of Silicon Valley. This is a place we will visit soon, but not now.
Why mention him here? It’s because his rise to fame aligns with the budding environmental consciousness that began to permeate societal discussions in the 1970s, even becoming a key election issue in the Western world in every election for the past 60 years. Then, scientists proposed corn as our saving grace—a plant capable of stemming the tide of environmental decay. However, far from our envisioned savior, the world found itself with a surplus of corn and a strategy that worsened environmental issues. This led to corn infiltrating nearly every corner of our food supply, from being a major ingredient in animal feed to a sugar substitute in food products (fructose), and even as a potential fuel source in some parts of the world (enter ethanol and methanol). Countless products today contain at least a trace of corn.
A mere two to three decades ago, we thought cows were going to be the next environmental heroes, with science, and engineers suggesting that we could harvest heat from their natural emissions. But, interestingly enough, current environmental movements propose the exact opposite—turning cows into an endangered species.
So is there any way of getting the whole world to benefit from global environmental policies? The answer doesn’t matter because, like all fights, the battle must go on with caution, and at least we have all sorts of wonderful food from Mexico and beyond, made from corn that makes us happy!
"Freaken 10 years being called a Latino comic, I had to go all the way around the world to be called an American"
In the quote above, Gabriel was performing in Saudi Arabia when a local Prince kept calling him an American. Renowned for his respectful yet hilarious ‘clean’ comedy, Gabriel Iglesias is arguably the world’s most entertaining comic. This sentiment profoundly resonates with individuals born to immigrants in the USA or Canada. It’s worth acknowledging that efforts to categorize and identify different groups of people as minorities, while often well-intended for political reasons or regional fund allocations, can simultaneously be irritating and even discriminatory. The source of the quote can be viewed here.
Just goes to show how far Mexican culture has permeated modern society and in honor of this we visit the southern state of Oaxaca because even if we have no clue about Fluffy’s ancestry, the man loves to eat (don’t worry he jokes about it all the time) so we assume his family is from the best culinary state in all of Mexico, Oaxaca.
"Everybody has their own story; everybody has their own journey."
Thalia, born as Ariadna Thalia Sodi Miranda in 1971 in Mexico City, is a well-known personality in Latin music and TV. She’s so admired that folks call her the ‘Queen of Latin Pop’.
Thalia is well-known for her talent in acting, especially in Latin American TV shows known as ‘telenovelas’. Her shows have reached an impressive 180 countries across the globe. With 15 hit albums and more than 25 million sales worldwide, her influence in the music world is clear. She also has several awards to her name and has authored four books, including the New York Times bestseller ‘Growing Stronger’.
Sample this track from her to get an idea of her sound. With over a billion views on YouTube, this song is a testament to her influence and reach. She may be too big to just pop up unannounced in a live venue but when in Oaxaca, once can still listen to Latin sounds at Zócalo, the city’s central square, or the historic Teatro Macedonio Alcalá, founded in 1903.
What to cover in this beautiful region as this is a region rich with natural wonders. One of the most notable is Hierve el Agua, a set of natural rock formations that resemble cascading waterfalls. These ‘petrified’ waterfalls are created by mineral-rich water that bubbles up from the ground and deposits calcium carbonate and other minerals on the cliff face, creating a stunning spectacle. Oaxaca is also home to the world’s largest tree, the mule tree. However when in Mexico we must visit a beach, and since we have only room for one item in our Nature’s Best segment we will visit the Pacific coast town of Puerto Escondido, home to the surfers paradise of Playa Zicatela, and at the opposite end of the scale is Playa Carrizalillo, a hidden and tranquil gem. This is a video from two non-Couch Potato Travellers, that this author enjoyed watching from his couch as I hope you do as well.
Did you know that Oaxaca, known for being one of the first places to cultivate corn, also holds the honor of early cultivation of chili peppers, avocados, and beans? This legacy continues today through the region’s lively food markets. Onward, let’s tease your taste buds as we venture into an avocado farm tucked away in Mexico. Relished as much as tomatoes, avocados are a salad staple despite being a fruit. But more on that later.
In Oaxaca de Juarez (City): What better way to enjoy the world’s most important crop, than this Oaxacan tour appropriately named, Earth Corn and fire. Tasting the roots of Oaxacan cuisine. Not that the other regions of Mexico don’t offer delectable cuisine, but this region is the pinnacle, and the town of Oaxaca is at the center of it all. Enjoy the video of Oaxacan food markets as well.
On your way to Puerto Escondido:
The journey from Oaxaca de Juarez to Puerto Escondido’s stunning beaches encompasses approximately 250 km through the towering Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Due to the challenging terrain, the drive typically takes around 6 hours. Given the lengthy duration, you might prefer taking a flight.
If, however, you decide to embrace the road trip, consider exploring an alternative, lengthier route. One of your pit stops could be San Martin Tilcajete, located roughly an hour into your journey. This charming village showcases the vibrant Alebrijes – Mexican folk art sculptures that depict mythical creatures in dynamic, colorful detail.
Adding to your enriching journey, this tour presents an opportunity for you to witness the renowned black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec as well. Thus, your drive could transform into a delightful exploration of striking Mexican art forms.
In Puerto Escondido: When you reach Puerto Escondido take a break at the beaches mentioned earlier, but also stop at the Laguna de Manialtepec, a coastal lagoon near Puerto Escondido, where you can take this tour to see the bioluminescent plankton that light up the water at night.
Do you know what the most famous dish from Oaxaca is? It’s not tacos but Mole Sauce. Second on the list is a Chapuline, which in English means fried grasshopper. Hence we don’t want anyone trying to catch a grasshopper, so we are going to show you how to make a Mole sauce which you can pour onto any meat. Of course, what’s a Mexcian dish without a side order of rice and tortillas? This is a rich, multifaceted sauce concocted from a diverse mix of ingredients such as chili peppers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and many spices.
Springler Link(Regional benefits of climate change), Advancing Earth and Space Sciences(Regional benefits of climate change), Mdpi(Regional benefits of climate change), National Science Review(Regional benefits of climate change), Ecology Society of America(Corn for energy production), Journal of Environmental Quality(Corn for energy production), Cambridge University Press(Corn for energy production), American Chemical Society, (Cows for energy production), Frontiers(History of corn in Oaxaca, Mexico), Biotechnia (History of the Avocado in Oaxaca, Mexico)
All images are AI-generated using Fotor and are meant to describe the subject matter they portray figuratively, not factually.
