The bolillo is our daily bread, as it is essential in tortas de tamal, molletes, lunch tortas, capirotada, and many other sweet and savory dishes. However, this type of bread takes on another meaning, as it has been used for decades as a home remedy to treat susto, especially those caused by tremors and earthquakes. 

This time, in kiwilimón we tell you a little more about the origin of the beloved bolillo and whether it is true that it is good for susto; you will be surprised! 

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A brief history of the bolillo 

As you may know, wheat is not an endemic ingredient of Aztec lands, as it arrived to us through Spanish colonizers; however, the famous bolillo did not reach the tables of Mexican families until the Porfirio era, a period dominated by French influence in cuisine. 

According to information published by the UNAM, the bolillo saw the light of the oven thanks to a baker named Camille Pirotte, who belonged to the court of Maximilian of Habsburg. Legend has it that Pirotte conducted several tests before achieving a fluffy bread with a crunchy crust. 

A curious fact is that the bolillo is also known as birote because people could not pronounce the baker's last name correctly, so they began to call it Birote. It is worth mentioning that he was very well-loved among the people, as he would give away unsold bread. 

You can also read: 5 reasons why we love tortas de tamal

Does bolillo help with susto? 

According to information published by UNAM, the bolillo could indeed be effective in helping us calm down after a big susto, as when the body experiences a scare, it sets about secreting adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that cause the following symptoms: 

• Changes in breathing 
• Accelerated heart rate 
• Stiffened muscles 
• Sweaty hands 
• Alteration of blood glucose 
• Heartburn 
• Nausea 

The last three symptoms mentioned can be controlled with a bit of bolillo, as UNAM experts state that “eating a bolillo can help stabilize blood glucose and counteract the feeling of emptiness in the stomach after a scare, as carbohydrates and fats inhibit the production of gastric acid.” 

They also mention that “the mere act of chewing food can serve as a distraction and help mitigate the effects of the scare.” However, bolillo is not the only option for dealing with susto, as it can also be achieved by eating any other food. 

So although bolillo is not the only delicacy that helps us stabilize blood glucose levels and avoid the feeling of having a hole in the stomach when facing a situation that causes us fear, stress, or nerves, it is undoubtedly a very Mexican remedy, and as they say, the pains are less with bread.  

You can also read: Bread? Better these foods for susto