Quelite : Chichihuachi. Papalo Adjacent
In November of 2025 I visited Mexico and spent some time at a friends childhood home in Tetipac in the mountains of Guerrero between Ixtapan de la Sal and Taxco. His family has a long history in this area and his father, a very knowledgeable man, introduced me to a quelite known as chichihuachi. He described it as a “kind of papalo” whose flavour was … Continue reading Quelite : Chichihuachi. Papalo Adjacent
Quelite de Venado : Another Deer Weed
We add another one to the list : A Note on Deer Weed : The Danger of Common Names Scientific name: Peperomia lenticularis A plant with smooth, slightly heart-shaped green leaves. Common names : Sopa-causasa, cumazani, Tequelite chiquito (1) Known in other languages as: cuc’sazan also Laktsu kuksasan (Totonac, northern mountains of Puebla) tancharapo (Nahuatl, northern mountain range of Puebla) Below are some descriptions of … Continue reading Quelite de Venado : Another Deer Weed
Amendollas signature.
A collection of the artists Luis Ricardo Amendolla Gasparos signatures (that I have been able to find) on various of his artworks. No reason really. Continue reading Amendollas signature.
Amendolla and La Fonda
In my Post Arte Mexicano : Mi Colección I wrote briefly about Luis Amendollas art “on public display” To recap Amendollas art on public display. The Spirit of La Fonda. This book describes the 50-year history and culture of the venerable La Fonda Restaurant in Lafayette, La. (1) one of the state’s most popular eating establishments. The book is also an autobiography of the restaurant’s … Continue reading Amendolla and La Fonda
Tlatlapas. ¿Qué es eso? Vitamina T?
Another facet of the nutritional category known as “Vitamina T” or Vitamin T? Vitamin T is a substance called torulitine found in sesame seeds, egg yolks and pumpkin seeds (1). Vitamin T seems to be the forgotten vitamin with little research and attention paid to it. The Oxford Reference Dictionary would have us believe Vitamin T is “Factor found in insect cuticle, mould mycelia, and … Continue reading Tlatlapas. ¿Qué es eso? Vitamina T?
A Short Discourse on the Aztec Soul.
in another Post (1) several references note that the “seat of the soul” for the Aztecs was the intestines and as such gastrointestinal illnesses and conditions, specifically trip ida, are synonymous with another condition called susto (2). My research does not indicate this though. For the Mexica, the human body mirrored the cosmos, both being composed of heavy and light substances. The light substance within … Continue reading A Short Discourse on the Aztec Soul.
Empacho and Tripa Ida
The practice of curanderismo is the living cultural tradition of holistic healing practices of the peoples of “Latin” America. Although variations of this tradition exist within most of the Americas my focus is on the traditions of Mexico and the south-western United States of America. Curanderismo is a holistic healing system that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—using a blend of herbs, rituals, and … Continue reading Empacho and Tripa Ida
Atlaquetzalli. The Drink of Kings*
*well “Tlatoanis” actually if you want to be pedantic about it (and I do) I briefly look at the masa based drink called atole in my Post Mexican Cooking Equipment : The Molinillo and go into it in a bit more detail in, A Naturopathic View of the Aztec Diet : Part 2 : Appendix 1 : Atole, and then expand upon it again in another related … Continue reading Atlaquetzalli. The Drink of Kings*
Pozole : Part 2 (Well, Part 1 really)
In a previous Post (Rábano. The Radish.) I mentioned briefly the dish known as pozole (go check the Post out for a bit of a breakdown on the origin and meaning of the word pozole, it’s interesting – well I reckon it is anyway – and it links with a little more etymology in this Post) Anyway. Back to the Pozole. At its most basic … Continue reading Pozole : Part 2 (Well, Part 1 really)
Porophyllum zimpanum
Let me introduce you to an uncommon Porophyllum, Porophyllum zimapanum (B. L. Turner). This porophyllum, named after its collector Billie Lee Turner (1) and the image below represents the only sample of this particular species. The plant was found growing in the cliffs of the Barranca de Toliman in the State of Hidalgo. Turner found this plant 10.5 miles West of Hotel Fundicion in Zimapan … Continue reading Porophyllum zimpanum
Masa Americana 