There is a daily struggle to translate some foods and drinks to a non-Spanish speaker. "It's something like...well, I think its..." is usually the ways a conversation starts. The thing is, the English translation almost never sounds as tasty as the original words. Here are a few Mexican drinks and foods that will broaden your world view, and possibly merit a quizzical look:
1. The Michelada
Pronounced mee-che-LAH-dah, this drink is considered the Mexican version of a Bloody Mary. It contains beer, tomato juice and a variation of hot sauces. It is lined with chili powder and usually garnished with a lemon wedge or shrimp. It can be found in almost any Mexican restaurant, and is a drink you can enjoy at the beach or to cure a hangover.
2. Menudo
Also known as stomach tripe soup, this soup takes many hours to make and is usually eaten during special occasions or holidays. The broth is made of a chile base, and is deliciously accompanied by chopped onion and cilantro. It makes a great breakfast food, especially for the "recalentada," the reheating of the soup, or the morning following a wedding or any other occasion.
3. Pulparindo
The YouTube star, PewDiePie, once tried this candy, and his look of disbelief suggested he was not expecting what he had just put in his mouth. Pulparindo is a Mexican candy made of tamarind pulp. It contains sugar, salt and chili powders, making it simultaneously sweet, salty, tart and spicy. Though PewDiePie was not a fan of the texture, I would recommend it to any adventurous taster.
4. Tacos de Buche
Buche, or pig stomach, is used mostly as a taco meat. It is among the other unique taco meats like tongue and head meat, and possibly the most easiest to mess up. If a taco truck or restaurant can prepare a delicious taco de buche, then you can depend in their cooking skills for more.
5. Jalapeno Margarita
The Yard House restaurant conveniently calls their jalapeno margarita "El Picante." Among other things like agave and lemon, it is infused with jalapeno peppers. Think of it as a lemon margarita with a kick. Strangely enough, it is pretty tasty and flavorful, if it suits your palate.
6. Pelon Pelo Rico
Like the Pulparindo, a Pelon Pelo Rico is a flavorful tamarind candy. It is similar in flavor, sweet, salty, tart and spicy, except for the method in which it is eaten. The push bottle is designed so that the tamarind paste pushes out, looking like a silly string head. Here's a hint: when you have pushed all the way down, disconnect the two pieces. There is always more candy!
7. Bacalao
Bacalao is dried codfish cooked with potatoes, yellow peppers and olives. The dish varies by country and also takes skill to make. It is usually eaten with a dinner roll or bolillo, and can also be eaten as a sandwich. Like menudo, it tastes even more amazing for the "recalentada," as the fish has had more time to soak up the flavors of the other ingredients.
8. Mole
There are many more dishes, candies and drinks I could go into detail about, but in my experience, these have sparked the most questions, most quizzical looks and are also the most difficult to explain. Perhaps the Spanish translation sounds better. If you are unfamiliar with these, and you like to try new things, these are worthy of a taste. Remember, just because they are different, doesn't mean they don't taste good. Next time you are in a foreign country, ask for the local dish, and I promise that you will be culturally enriched by it!
