The bolillo... at kiwilimón, we could write love songs and poems to the bolillo, as it is a key product in Mexican gastronomy. From molletes, tortas, and even bread pudding, the bolillo is a must on your table, but have you ever wondered how many calories it has? We’ll tell you! 

Read more: Does the bolillo serve for scares?

A brief history of the bolillo  

Before diving into caloric topics, we also want to share a bit about the fascinating history of the bolillo in Mexico. To begin with, let’s not forget that there are variants like the birote, which is consumed in Jalisco and is a bit longer. Meanwhile, in the case of the telera, the texture is similar, but it is much wider and flatter. 

Returning to the specific case of the bolillo, this food came to light with the arrival of the Spaniards to Aztec lands. According to historical sources, the bolillo was created by Camille Pirotte, a baker who arrived in Mexico during the reign of Maximiliano de Habsburgo.  

It is said that Pirotte was a volunteer in the French army and that Maximiliano ordered the French to teach their trades to the locals. After a period without much success, Pirotte became a beloved and respected figure in Jalisco. 

Furthermore, the website México Desconocido explains that, lacking yeast, the baker had to make several attempts to create the perfect bread. It is worth mentioning that since he was unable to pronounce his last name correctly, the bread was baptized as birote instead of Pirotte. In Mexico City and other regions of the country, the birote became the bolillo, and some of its characteristics were also changed.  

On one hand, the bolillo has a somewhat oval shape with rounded ends, is crispy on the outside, and has a very soft crumb. In the case of the birote, it is longer, resembling a baguette. Meanwhile, in terms of the crumb, it is heavier and not as soft, which is very helpful for preparing tortas ahogadas.  

You can also read: The simplest trick to rescue hard bread 

How many calories does a bolillo have? 

According to information published by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the bolillo has around 183 calories per piece. Additionally, the university notes that it also contains: 

• 5.7 grams of protein 
• 39 grams of carbohydrates 
• 341.4 mg of sodium 

It is worth mentioning that, according to experts, consuming a bolillo is equivalent to eating 3 corn tortillas.  

Now that you know a bit more about the origin of the bolillo, the differences with the birote, and how many calories a bolillo has, don’t miss out on trying the best recipes for tortas, molletes, and other delicious dishes that kiwilimón has for you. Run to buy bolillos and cook with us! 

Continue reading: 5 reasons why we love tamal tortas