The Heart and Soul of Authentic Mexican Tacos: A Journey Through Tradition

A Taste of My Heritage

From a very young age, we had the honor of witnessing the many cooking techniques and the wide variety of foods prepared on the metate and molcajete. The aromas of herbs, nixtamalized corn, dried chiles, and fresh vegetables filled the air. I remember how the smell of café de olla, sweetened with piloncillo, and the nixtamal simmering over the wood fire woke us up every morning.

I recall my grandmother, María Rincón-Bernal, grinding ingredients on a stone called metate. Kneeling with admirable strength, she made it look so easy! Yet, I never imagined how much her wrists had suffered over the years. We were fortunate to grow up alongside a grandmother deeply rooted in traditional cooking. Perhaps she was never recognized as a “mayora” (the woman who leads, teaches, and preserves traditional recipes and cooking techniques passed down through generations) by the gods of the kitchen, but for us, she truly was one.

The Legacy of a Small Food Stand

My grandmother had a small food stand. She created the recipes and ran her kitchen with absolute authority. Although she didn’t have sous-chefs or assistants, she had my grandfather. Together, they cooked and managed their business.

Her seasoning was well-known in the region. Many people came to taste her food because they said she had a very special touch. She didn’t even realize that her antojitos mexicanos were a delightful combination of European and local ingredients. She trained herself in the kitchen of her small restaurant. She learned to cook out of necessity, but above all, out of love for food.

I never met her mother or grandmother, but she always told me that her recipes had been passed down from generation to generation. My grandmother María was an expert in antojitos mexicanos. As a true teacher in the art of cooking, she guided us while we prepared refried beans or longaniza with red sauce. Rincón never worked for a chef, never attended culinary school, and could barely read. Like many women since pre-Hispanic times, my grandmother was in charge of cooking, caring for us, and making sure her small business and kitchen functioned perfectly.

The Art of Traditional Cooking

I’m certain that María developed her grinding technique on the metate and molcajete from a very young age. She used clay pots and wooden spoons because she believed they gave everything a better flavor. María would prepare corn atole for us before bedtime. Sometimes, she made chongos zamoranos — a traditional Mexican dessert from Zamora, Michoacán. This dessert, made with curdled milk, sugar, and cinnamon, has a soft consistency, formed into small curds bathed in a sweet, aromatic syrup. It represents culinary ingenuity and the complete use of food resources, conveying warmth and tradition in every spoonful.

A Grandmother's Love

María never had children of her own, but she adopted my father as her great and only treasure in the world. Like Benedicta Alejo Vargas, a traditional Mexican cook from San Lorenzo, Uruapan, Michoacán, María worked tirelessly in her kitchen to sell her food and provide my father with financial stability.

Her dedication to cooking led her to sell food on the streets. Her flavors were so well received that she soon managed to open a small stand, where her comal and her hands became the heart and soul of our family.

Like Juanita Bravo, another traditional Mexican cook from Michoacán, my grandmother never left her hometown. The only time she did was to move from Oaxaca to Cuautla, Morelos, with my grandfather.

Celebrating Cultural Heritage

The influence of moles and stews brought a piece of cultural heritage into our lives. During the mayordomías (religious community celebrations), my grandmother ensured that everything went perfectly. Among these events were the Day of the Dead altars, Catholic celebrations, weddings, baptisms, and others. Groups of women would gather and divide responsibilities, recognizing María as the leader of these events.

“This ancestral tradition is the accumulation of values and knowledge over time that give cultural identity to a society,” write De Angelli and De Palacios. I never imagined that one day it would be our turn to help promote our Mexican cuisine abroad — to honor and preserve our Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Journey Continues

As we reflect on our culinary journey, we realize that each taco we create is a tribute to our heritage. We blend traditional techniques with high-quality ingredients, ensuring that every bite is filled with flavor and love.

At Jus' Tacos, we strive to become the top spot for authentic Mexican tacos in New Jersey. We want to share our passion for traditional flavors and high-quality ingredients with everyone. Our goal is to make it easy for everyone to enjoy a true Mexican culinary experience.

Let’s celebrate the rich tapestry of flavors that make our cuisine unique! Join us on this delicious journey, and together, we can keep the spirit of our ancestors alive in every taco we serve.