5 reasons why we love tamale tortas

A couple of days ago, the portal TasteAtlas published a list of the 10 worst-rated street foods. Although it would never cross the minds of us Mexicans, the unthinkable happened, as the culinary guide included the torta de tamal, better known as guajolota, as one of the worst street foods in the world by placing it in the number 9 spot.  After such an offense, social media users and experts in Mexican cuisine came to the defense of the beloved torta de tamal, a street dish that is a whole tradition and an explosion of flavors: an exquisite tamal wrapped in a fluffy bolillo. To pair it, nothing beats an atole or champurrado.  But returning to such an outrage, it is obvious that foreigners who were not seduced by this culinary creation do not understand the very important role of the torta de tamal in our country, as it represents the culinary mestizaje that occurred with the arrival of Spanish colonizers, so in Kiwilimón we give you 5 reasons why we love guajolotas.  You can also read: 10 Mexican snacks with cochinita pibil5 reasons why we love tortas de tamal  We are sure you will 100% agree with these 5 reasons, right?  1. The torta de tamal is filling  If you overslept, rushed out, the subway took a thousand hours, and you barely made it to the office, you probably didn’t have time for breakfast, who will save you? The tamalero, of course. The only dilemma will be choosing between mole, green, rajas, or sweet tamal. To tie it all together, don’t forget the atole de arroz.   2. It represents the essence of Mexican cuisine  The tamal has its origins in the pre-Hispanic era, but it transformed with the arrival of lard and pork to Aztec lands. Years later, it would reach its final metamorphosis by merging with the bolillo, the local interpretation of European breads. Therefore, the torta de tamal is the perfect marriage between the fruits of the milpa and European elements.  3. The torta de tamal is accessible  Is it the end of the pay period? The torta de tamal will get you out of any bind. In Mexico, we know that to eat well, you don’t need to spend a fortune, as the blessed tamaleros always delight us with guajolotas at affordable prices and sometimes even in combos! What’s your favorite guajolocombo?  You can also read: 8 warm Mexican drinks for rainy days 4. It’s not that unhealthy Yes, we know that the torta de tamal is not the most nutritious food, but we shouldn’t demonize it either. We asked our resident nutritionist, Jennifer Asencio, about this topic, and here’s what she told us:  “The tamal and the bread are a source of carbohydrates, therefore, they will provide us with a great energy boost to start the day.” In the case of corn dough, this “provides vitamin B1, which helps the functioning of the nervous and muscular systems,” furthermore, “vitamin B is important for the brain, heart, and the formation of red blood cells.” Not to mention, corn dough is also rich in folic acid, “which helps metabolize iron, vitamin B12, and amino acids.” In the case of tamales with pork or chicken, they are a source of protein, while corn is rich in fiber, so it could help you maintain good digestion.  If you are concerned about cholesterol, triglycerides, and the like, it is best to consume it occasionally.  5. The torta de tamal is ideal for any time of the day  As if that weren’t enough, the famous guajolota is a dish that delights us at any time of the day, as we can enjoy it at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even late-night after a good party.  So now you know, what others say doesn’t matter because Mexicans carry the torta de tamal in our hearts. Run after your trusted tamalero and grab a guajolota with atole to our health!