Posted on 12/27/2017 2:10:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
Consumption of the corn tortilla, the very symbol of Mexican cuisine, has dropped by some 40 percent over the past 30 years
Consumption of the corn tortilla, the very symbol of Mexican cuisine, has dropped by some 40 percent over tahe past 30 years while losing flavor and texture, despite the varieties of Mexican corn that exist in the country, Rafael Mier, businessman and promoter of the corn tortilla, told EFE.
"In Mexico, right at the center of where corn originated, there's not just one kind of tortilla, there are hundreds of tortilla varieties, as there are of Mexican masa harina corn flour," said the promoter of Rescue Tortilla Consumption in Mexico.
Yet the tortilla is being abandoned because it's being homogenized by industry with its whiteners, conditioners and artificial coloring, and by the authorities themselves "since they don't keep a register of who is sowing which corn varieties."
People assume there's only "white and yellow corn," which leads to a deterioration of the national gastronomy.
For example, the traditional soup known as pozole in the capital is made with cacahuacintle corn, in Guerrero with ancho corn, and in Nayarit with jala corn.
In Jalisco people consume corn that is highly modified "for mass production," while other states like Oaxaca and Sinaloa no longer use local corn, Mier said.
Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, chilaquiles and tostadas have the tortilla as their "invisible ingredient" that goes unnoticed "as to its image, quality and flavor."
Mier said it's important to deal with "the loss" it is having, "both in terms of consumption and quality," as well as what the "culture" is losing, considering the "excessive" amount of fast foods being consumed both in urban and rural areas.
He called on people to promote the use of Mexican corn varieties and flavors in nixtamalization (soaking and cooking the corn in an alkaline solution), since these types of corn "have been enjoyed for more than 2,000 years as tortillas."
"For the first time we're in danger of losing them," Mier said.
Where in Texas do you find that masa?
bttt
We eat at Taco Bell once a year as a way to remind us why we don’t.
The brand is Bob’s Red Mill-the nearest grocery store has it, but they also have a webite with all their organic food products-www.bobsredmill.com.
Never understood the dichotomy: the two different corn v. flour serve activity: you can walk/work/drive long distances with a flour wrapping your taco innards; corn tortillas, crunchy and soft, require sitting motionless while you eat them.
Taco Bell solved this problem with the Double Decker, a nutritious, balanced meal in one piece. Make your own, it’s easy.
What’s a double decker? I’m not familiar with that item-I don’t eat fast food-and I’ve never been in a Taco Bell...
You take a flour, toast it in pan with manteca or butter, then slather refried beans and some shredded cheese, then undercarriage-wrap this around a regular crunchy yellow taco shell stuffed with meat, then lettuce (insulates the meat heat from the cold sour cream, tomatoes, avocado, etc), then black olives and salsa. Everything your body needs in something you can eat while you move around.
They must be good cooks. In my town they also staff the kitchens of the Chinese joints, the Thai joint, the Vietnamese joint, the Nepalese joint and several standard American fare joints. I'm not sure about the Italian joints though.
Oh sure. Know the brand. Does the package say “Masa”? Or?
Re #48:
Anthony Bourdain (a big supporter of illegals) has said that most French and Italian restaurants in NYC are staffed by Mexicans. I’m sure they’re being paid low wages but I’m also sure it’s because they’re a quick study for different cooking techniques.
He's gone; he was only allowed to serve two terms.
Oh! You mean the bakery...
FWIW I wasn’t being at all facetious. The combo Thai/Nepalese/Tibetan restaurant is very good. Haven’t been to the others but they all do good business.
I like Fritos corn chips in my chili. topped with cheese.
The homemade version is probably healthier than the fast food one-but it has way more carbs than I ever eat-I’d just take everything but the taco shell, flour and beans, put it into a bowl and call it salad...
The package says Golden Masa Harina Corn Flour on the front.
That’s what I use in my taco bowls. Regular Fritos corn chips and chili con carne with beans. Lettuce, tomato, avocado, and chile guisada or pico de gallo. Topped with cheese.
Isn’t it weird that the kids love, love, love corn chips, Dorito’s and whatevers, but give them corn tortillas and they don’t like ‘em at all.
We had the homemade Doritos-cut up corn tortillas fried in lard-but we didn’t get packaged corn chips or anything like that-I come from a family of health nuts, and that stuff is just too salty to be healthy. But my husband and I let our cub have corn chips sometimes-she liked the fried tortillas homemade, and corn tortillas too.
While not a “drive thru”, decades ago when I worked at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, the favorite lunch run was to a little place called “Tito’s Tacos” corner of Washington and Culver. The staff for the most part spoke no English, but no problemo.
One can easily make their own corn tortillas.
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