What kinds of food are found and eaten in Mexico?

Due to globalization, cuisine from many countries can be found in larger cities of Mexico, including Chinese, Japanese, French and especially Italian food. The popularity of pizza has increased greatly during the past few years. American fast food chains have gained in popularity.

However, Mexico is a country with a rather large cuisine history: each state and region within Mexico has a traditional food for which huge encyclopedias can be found. Following are some examples from each region or state:

• Nuevo Leon: Large-sized corn tortillas called Sobaqueras (more than 25 inches in diameter) to eat beef meat, such as the Arrachera. Also, much of the Tex-Mex food originated from Nuevo Leon (Fajitas, Burritos).
• Tamaulipas: Northern coastal state home of the Carne a la Tampiqueña: large grilled meat steaks accompanied by a portion of guacamole, black beans and rice.
• Puebla: Origin of Mole Poblano, which can be defined as a very thick, homogeneous sauce with complex flavors. The most common way to consume mole is with chicken, though any kind of meat may be served with mole sauce. Another preparation, more common in restaurants, is enchiladas (corn tortillas wrapped around chicken, cheese or some other simple filling) baked in mole sauce.
• Yucatan: Where the Cochinita Pibil was invented. A preparation of traditional cochinita involves marinating pork meat in strongly acidic citrus juice, coloring it with annatto seed, and roasting the meat while it is wrapped in a banana leaf.
• South-Central Mexico: It is the region where Pozole (from Nahuatl pozolli) was first created by Aztec people. When Spain conquered Mexico, some ingredients such as the meat changed, but it has kept most of the original recipe: a beef, pork or chicken soup with corn, avocado and some spices. Also Tacos de guisado (corn or wheat tortillas wrapped around a meat stew) are from this region. It is worth noting tacos served on food chains outside of Mexico have nothing to do with the original dish.
• Jalisco: The regional dish most known for this state is the Birria, which is a meat stew, made of mutton, goat or lamb, and it is often served with corn tortillas, onion, cilantro and lime.

There are also many garnish or entree foods from Mexico, including Guacamole, Nopal salad and hot sauces like Pico de gallo (tomato, onion, cilantro), Green (green tomato) and Red (chile pepper). Finally, there are unusual foods, even for Mexicans: Huitlacoche (corn smut) is a delicacy in Mexico, and is even being preserved and sold for a higher price than corn; Escamoles, which are ant larvae, are eaten with corn tortillas. Chapulines (grasshoppers), are toasted, salted and eaten as a snack on some coastal states.

As for desserts, Mexico has a huge variety of them: Cacao has been cultivated in Mexico for at least three millenia. When mixed with sugar, Chocolate (Aztec: xocolatl, Maya: chocolha) is elaborated. Crystallized fruit is also common, and many traditional Mexican candies such as Cocadas (made of milk and coconut), Mueganos (popcorn with caramelized sugar) and Alegrias (candies made of amaranth seed and bee honey) are popular.