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Gayla

Sep 15, 2006, 3:43 PM

Post #1 of 6 (1316 views)

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Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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Interesting eco-politically correct article about the demise of corn tortillas in Mexico. I have no idea if the claims made in this article are true or not (although I'm pretty sure some of the political claims are). The writer's agenda, however, seems to be crystal clear.

http://www.grist.org/...ex.html?source=daily

esperanza

Sep 15, 2006, 4:11 PM

Post #2 of 6 (1309 views)

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Re: [Gayla] Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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The claim that many (if not most) tortillerías in Mexico now use Maseca rather than nixtamal (dried corn processed with slaked lime) to make tortillas is sad but true. And the Maseca-made corn tortilla of Mexico, while certainly better than most of the cardboard products sold in the USA, is a shadow of its former self.

Thanks for posting the article. It's really a fascinating commentary.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Sep 15, 2006, 4:12 PM)

arbon

Sep 15, 2006, 4:38 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1298 views)

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Re: [Gayla] Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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ASK A MEXICAN.
from the new syndicated column by Gustavo Arrellano

Q: Whenever we go out to eat, my friend always reminds me when I order flour tortillas that no Mexican ever eats them. He does this within earshot of the hot waitress, presumably to embarrass me into jumping onto the corn bandwagon. Is this true?
Taco Del Congelador

A: Dear Taco from the Freezer: Unless you’re eating burritos wrapped in Wonder Bread, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. But I’ll give your friend credit for noting the fight to the death between tortillas de maíz and harina. The Spaniards who conquered northern Mexico and the southwest United States first created flour tortillas because they were too stupid to learn corn-growing techniques from the vanquished natives and thus substituted wheat for maize. Flour tortillas subsequently became the flavor of choice in the borderlands, and gabachos quickly embraced the more familiar taste of flour over the corn tortilla’s earthy Mesoamerican charm. According to ACNielsen Strategic Planner, sales of flour tortillas in the United States for the period between April 2004 and April 2005 were $653.2 million, while corn tortillas only notched $338.7 million. The pernicious spread of flour continues: in 1998’s “Dietary Patterns and Acculturation Among Latinos of Mexican Descent,” researchers Eunice Romero-Gwynn and Douglass Gwynn discovered that amongst the Mexicans they surveyed, “While only 14 percent of the immigrants reported consumption of flour tortillas while in Mexico, 35 percent consumed these tortillas after immigration.” Again, America: Mexicans pick up gabacho ways fast, so don’t gasp when they start speaking English and discriminating against tú.

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(This post was edited by arbon on Sep 15, 2006, 4:45 PM)

Anonimo

Sep 15, 2006, 5:01 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1290 views)

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Re: [arbon] Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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For lunch today, I made quesadillas de queso, rajas, champiñones y epazote, using the delicious, translucent flour tortillas from the Tortillería Unüen, in Pátzcuaro. I generally prefer these flour tortillas, because a good tortilla de máiz, with good flavor, is hard to find.

All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

wendy devlin

Sep 15, 2006, 9:43 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1271 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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That was interesting background information about the Maseca Company, it's chief owner, Roberto González Barrera, and his personal and business connection with Salinas.

Have been trying to follow the corn and sugar trail; the trade 'war', the subsidies, the cross-border effects, etc. for some years now. Article suggests another piece to the picture.

And Gayla, please let us know how your pozole turned out...your final recipe, please:)

(have two hogs to butcher this fall. Pozole ahead!)

Maybe not for arbon and myself, but daughter will likely want the head and scraggy bits. She came around to butcher the young roosters, for a decent stock to make tortilla soup, last month. And then kicks me back a potful:)

She's probably the only 20 year old in our town, interested in food like this. We can thank Mexico for the 'influence'. That and she's lived on a farm since she was born.

caldwelld

Sep 16, 2006, 11:39 AM

Post #6 of 6 (1252 views)

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Re: [Gayla] Tortillas! My Kindom for a Tortilla!

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You got to hand it to this guy's ability to mix and match grains, years, governments, government subsidies and entire political regimes to make his sordid point. I guess it is getting too hard to find a topic NOB where there are so many misinformed, misguided and naïve readers ready to pay for this drivel. Just my opinion of course.
dondon