We put Valentina on everything... but do you know where it came from?

In Mexico, you might run out of bread, but Salsa Valentina... never. When a Mexican goes abroad to study, they might forget their sneakers, but never Salsa Valentina. We even use it in soup... but do we know where this super sauce originated? Salsa Valentina is one of those products that is present in almost every home and business in Mexico, as it is commonly used to accompany cucumbers, popcorn, chicharrones, fried fish, or even instant soup. 'Valentina' is one of those products that very well identifies Mexicans, but if consumed in excess, it increases gastric juice secretion and can lead to gastritis. Its components can be quite aggressive. Just as an example, it’s enough to remember when the Culture Directorate of the Municipality of Ciudad Juárez cleaned over 100 sculptures with Salsa Valentina, as one of the ingredients in the product reacts with metals like a polish. Although the finish is of lower quality, Salsa Valentina can save costs and time. The Origin It is said that in the 1950s, Gilberto Reyna, who lived in Tamazula de Gordiano, Jalisco, traditionally prepared a sauce called El Torito, a product that gradually became a hit among nearby communities. The sauce was distributed in local stores without a brand and packaged in barrels. Shortly after, Manuel Maciel Méndez, an ice bar salesman, noticed that the product was very popular among the locals. Thus, he set out to prepare his own sauce with family recipes. The result was Salsa Tamazula, the product that would be the predecessor of the Salsa Valentina we know today, as both share the same ingredients and flavor. This region has been characterized by its talent for producing quality sauces and by having a wide variety of recipes. Some notable ones are Salsa Jalisco from the Galván family, Salsa Reina made by the Reina del Toro family, and Salsa Maga prepared by the Contreras family. Grupo Tamazula was established as a family business, also founded by Manuel Maciel Méndez in 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Salsa Tamazula was the first star product; its acceptance and success in the market led to the launch of the brands Valentina and Costa Brava, which allowed for national distribution. Currently, the Grupo Tamazula plant is located in the industrial area of Guadalajara and covers an area of 30,000 square meters. The company generates jobs that benefit over 100 families in Jalisco. The company markets its products throughout most of the country, and they also reach California, Texas, and Illinois. It is possible to find them in Canada, Spain, and some South American countries, as Mexicans have decided to take it on their travels anywhere in the world. View original article