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Nadejda

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #1 of 4 (6010 views)

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Spices/ tomillo/ pinguica

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There is a spice festival going on in the closest to me Mega Commercial Mexicana. I bought a lot of stuff, some of which I have never seen before. The two things nowhere to be found are pinguica (looks like reddish-brown seeds) and dried tomillo (a herb). How am I supposed to use them?

ale

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #2 of 4 (6009 views)

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Spices/ tomillo/ pinguica

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about the pingüica i have this information:
The pingüica it´s a small fruit, that grow in small trees. Somethimes it's also called "manzanita" (little apple) , because it´s very similar to them. The pingüica is more common used in the center of México, with they are made the famous pingüica water. In the estado de mexico its used to do tamales, and in chihuahua the tarahumaras used it to do one variety of tesgüino (an alcoholic drink)

Nadejda

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #3 of 4 (6007 views)

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Spices/ tomillo/ pinguica

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Thank you so much!
Ok, thyme is the easier one, it is in all cookbooks and now I know what to do with it.
With bearberry you were helpful too. I'll search for information on this word, it is easier than pinguica.
You know, I am crazy when it comes to spices. I buy everything that looks or smells good, than I try to find out what to do with it. I shouldn't be let anywhere near spice festivals!

gran

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #4 of 4 (6007 views)

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Spices/ tomillo/ pinguica

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Hola Nadejda,
Tomillo is thyme and is used in many recipies in the same manner as oregano.
Pinguina botanical name is uva-ursi, english is bearberry and aztec is tomazquitl/tepizquitl. I have never seen a recipe that calls for it but in my search I found that european herbalists have been using it as a diuretic since the middle ages. Ancient mexicans used it for the same treatment.
Maybe someone else can give us more information, I too would like to learn more about how it is used.

Gran