Tecpa Travel Mexico

09/09/2018

If you are in México city, you should try this...

05/08/2018

Archaeologist Ángel García Cook, one of the first experts to explore the Tehuacán Caves (located in the state of Puebla about 3 hours from Mexico city) half a century ago, stressed the importance of confirming that corn, as we know it today, is a product created by the human race.

A group of scientists from the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (or IPN), analyzed samples of corn that were more than five thousand years old and confirmed that the grain was domesticated and modified by humans. This domestication made the emergence of pre-Hispanic civilizations possible.

From the teocintle (a primitive corn plant), the first corn plants emerged on the eastern coast of Mexico about nine thousand years ago. At that time, a long process of cross breeding the plant began until we obtained useful varieties for human consumption. Corn with the traits that we know today is the byproduct of the evolution of the wild species called teocintle, the closest genetic relative to the cultivated plant.
From this research, scientists determined that Mexico has the highest genetic diversity of maize in the world, with around 59 autochthonous breeds native to the country.

31/07/2018

The “tomato” in spanish or “tomatillo” in English, was domesticated in Mexico but the tomatillo was not as successful in its introduction to Europe as the tomato introduction was, the word tomato comes from the Aztec Word tómatl wich means “fat object”, the modern word that we use for tomatillo was created by the spanish chroniclers who translated the word tomatl from Aztec language (náhuatl) into spanish. Tomatillo is a basic ingredient in Mexican cuisine and you can find it in every green salsa, we invite you to visit a 400 years tradition market and prepare a traditional Mexican dish with with us .

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24/07/2018

It is the beginning of “tuna” season here in Mexico. The name of this fruit is the same as the name you use for tuna fish, it is the fruit of the nopal (cactus) plant and native of Mexico. It is so abundant that it can grow and mature in difficult conditions and is an excellent seasonal dessert. Despite its appearance its texture is similar to that of watermelon, full of seeds but very sweet. Its flesh comes in a variety of colors- from yellow to green and purple tones. To eat it the outer skin is removed and the seeds are not chewed, they are swallowed. The cactus plant you see below is from a friend who is dedicated to growing this fruit in Santa Miguel Aztacamecah, very close to the pyramids of Teotihuacán. If you find yourself here in Mexico you should try it.

13/07/2018

12/07/2018

A majestic grotto, a turquoise river of hot water was waiting for us. As we entered this wonder we had many spectacular views like this one, we felt small next to the immensity and we were amazed by the color of the water that runs on the rocks. I invite you to meet this place with us.

12/07/2018

Tenancingo is a place known for the beauty of its rebozos, made by artisans who have a great love for their work. (Rebozo is a handmade shawl traditionally used for everything from covering a woman’s hair when attending church, to carrying her child on her back). In the center of this town is a traditional plaza and both the parish and government palace; but on Thursdays and Sundays we find its streets covered by a market on wheels, where we can appreciate Tenancingo’s handicrafts: chairs painted with floral motifs, rebozos, fresh and colorful fruit. Typical dishes in Tenancingo are carne obispo, or “bishop meat,” a spicy sausage made with pork, and barbacoa, which comes from the neighboring town of Capulhuac, is the specialty of the region. (Barbacoa is lamb meat, slow roasted with Wood in a pit oven dug into the earth) As a special culinary treat, and sincerely one of the best Tlacoyos I've ever tasted (Tlacoyo is a corn “cake” usually stuffed with beans or chicharron), stuffed with fava beans, cheese and cactus is to be found in this market. Also, Tenancingo is one of the largest flower producers in the region, and its flowers are largely sent to places like the Mercado Jamaica in Mexico City and some are even exported internationally. I invite you to explore Tenancingo and all of the wonderful treats it has to offer with us.

10/07/2018

03/07/2018

Even though Mexico lost today, still enjoying the best of CDMX in a classic cantina, unlimited food for the price of 4 drinks, more than 100 dishes to choose from!!

27/06/2018

Many people thoughts in Mexico that May 3 (día de la santa cruz) is something like the day of the construction workers, but only few people know that it is a day where the European and indigenous syncretism diverges once again; In the pre-hispanic calendar and religion during this date a very important ceremony was used to held, where people asked to the nature and especially to the mountains for a good rainy season for the next planting and for the fertility of the land. It is the beginning of the agricultural cycle because the first rains of the year begin, our construction workers (albañiles in spanish), mostly from indigenous origin, keep the tradition alive, although it is no longer required for rain or fertility, but it is a reminder of what this day used to be . I attached a photo of my town in Tlaxcala where people decorate the altars with elements that represent fertility and they still ask for water abundance to the mountains.

11/01/2018

11/01/2018