Author: Cristobal Tamariz

In the past, market places around the world were considered a very important place for commerce. If someone had something to sell, they went off to the market. The market is where people negotiated prices, sold local and imported products, where bakers and cooks offered freshly made items, and farmers sold their crops. If you needed to feed your family, find items for your retail store, or curate new products for an industry, the market was the place! As a significant sales point both large and independent sellers had to adopt a selling technique that would weather supply and demand. They also wanted to ensure repeat customers at their booth. With so many farmers, bakers and importers under one roof, savvy sellers not only had great prices and great products but highlighted courteous and personal service. Market vendors made a point of knowing their customers, their customer's family members and remembered the likes and dislikes. This enhanced service created a relationship that remains unique to markets. Tlatelolco, the most astonishing Mexican market in Pre-Hispanic times. The Aztec culture was the predominant Pre-Hispanic culture in Central Mexico before the Spaniards arrive. Its empire extended from central and western Mexico well into Central America. Everyone would gather throughout the year in Tenochtitlan, which is now known as Mexico City to buy, sell and trade goods. This market was called the Tianguis of Tlatelolco, the most popular and important market in the region. Hernan Cortes wrote that this market was perfectly organized. He highlighted that items were divided in areas making buying easy for anyone who attended. Fresh products - pineapples, avocados, pumpkins and squash, fresh and dried chiles, zapotes, pitahayas, nanches, mamey, nopales, maize of all kind white, yellow, red, pink, blue, black were found in one corner of the market. Animals,

The Mexicas or Aztecs, were once the most resplendent of civilizations in Mexico and still, today, their language is part of the world's day to day life. Not just in Spanish but in other languages as well. Before the invasion of the 'New World' by the Spaniards, the natives of Central and South America had many different languages including quechua and maya. In the territory that we now know as Mexico, the dominant people were the Aztec and their language was Nahuatl, for many known as Aztec. The indigenous people were heavily influenced by the culture and language of the Spanish. By holding onto their own languages, as well as learning Spanish, they managed to preserve their own culture. We find many examples of this in Mexican cuisine that will influence the way you look at those dishes in the future. Chocolate, one of the biggest gifts from Mexico to the world! In pre-Hispanic times, the cacao seed was used to prepare an exquisite drink made from cacao.  The drink was reserved for the privileged class because the cacao seed was also used as currency. The cacao seed drink was made with water and sometimes flavored with Mexican spices like chilli, vanilla or mayan honey. This was before the introduction of sugare and dairy cattle to Mexico. As a consequence, the flavor of this drink was really bitter and named  Xocolatl.  Xoco means Bitter and Atl means Water, so literally bitter water. So from this drink came the English word Chocolate: Spanish-Chocolate. French- Chocolat Italian-Cioccolato German-schokolade Portuguese- chocolate Tagalog -tsokolate Avocado, ambassador of traditional Mexican Food. Your guacamole will never be the same! This word come from the Aztec word “ahuacatl” meaning testicle. In Spanish the fruit is aguacate. We just have to take a look at the fruit hanging in