To speak of gastronomy in Chiapas is to speak of an endless number of dishes and foods that change and give way to other wonders as you move through the region. However, all of them share common links such as the quality of the materials used and the respect for local ancestral traditions.

Chiapas is rightly proud to offer its own unique gastronomic experiences where each dish hides a story that nourishes body and mind.

In Enjoy Travel Group we are connoisseurs of the rich gastronomy of Chiapas and today we want to share it with you in a summarized form so that you can start opening your mouth before traveling to this Mexican state.

What will the gastronomy of Chiapas catch you with?

The gastronomy of Chiapas is made up of an endless number of dishes that are impossible to gather in a single article. Therefore, the best thing to do is to classify them by groups.

Coffee

Coffee is a sign of identity in Chiapas, not only as part of its gastronomy, but also as one of the pillars of its economy that directly or indirectly sustains more than one million people in a good number of Chiapas municipalities. Coffee cultivation was introduced in Chiapas in 1846 from Guatemala.

The plant takes between four and five years to bear fruit from the time it is planted, a process that takes place during the months of May and June to allow the plant to reach a considerable size in winter and be able to withstand the cold and low temperatures.

The types of plants grown in Chiapas are Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica has a mild flavor while Robusta has a stronger and harsher flavor.

Coffee destined for export is grown at low altitudes in order to achieve a mild flavor, not too acidic, with little body and delicate aroma.

High altitude coffee , on the other hand, is of a higher quality with a strong aroma and full body. Its cultivation, as its name suggests, takes place in areas at an altitude of more than 900 meters above sea level.

At this point we must mention that Mexico is the first producer of organic coffee in the world as a result of its awareness and its commitment to the sustainability of the Planet. Likewise, Chiapas is the largest coffee producing state in Mexico.

Fish and seafood

The seafood dishes in Chiapas stand out for the freshness of their ingredients.

Whether it is macabil sausage, mullet or sambuco roe, minilla or fried dogfish tacos, rainbow trout, shrimp and snook broth, tilapia or small shrimp that can be prepared steamed, sweet, salty and with lemon, all of them will guarantee that your seafood dining experience will last in your memory for a long time.

Oysters, mule shell, sea cockroach, clams or pigua are other alternatives that you won’t want to pass up.

If you need advice, trust us, we have years of experience and local guides happy to tell you how to make the most of your seafood culinary experience in the area.

Meats

Beef in Chiapas is an inexhaustible source of supply, since everything is used: the entrails, the meat, the extremities. Anything goes to put on the table kidneys Mexican style, a good liver with onions, a plate of mondongos or roasted tripe, udders and heart.

In addition to the aforementioned, this state has a long tradition of sausages. Thus, it is very common for the traveler to find sausages, chorizos, sausages, morongas, Serrano hams, mortadellas, pork cheeses, salamis and even sausages like the Spanish ones.

Cocoa and chocolate

Cacao is a gift from the historic Soconusco region to the world and is present in many of its local dishes. Its value is such that some ancient peoples came to use it as currency.

The seeds of the fruit are used to make drinks and preparations. One of the best known is pozol, in which cocoa is mixed with cinnamon, vanilla and sugar.

Chocolate in Chiapas is mixed with honey, corn, cinnamon, achiote and water.

In towns such as Tuxtla Chico, it is common to find chocolate slats made by families who then sell them in the market, thus supporting local and sustainable trade.

The new generations of master chocolatiers are focusing on rescuing local products such as cocoa to produce not only metate chocolate, but also to innovate and offer Mexican chocolates filled with traditional or exotic flavors to suit the consumer’s taste.

Cheeses

Chiapas artisan cheese enjoys a well-deserved reputation for its high quality, flavor and freshness. The small production guarantees that the flavors and textures are forever fixed in your DNA of taste sensations.

For example, if we talk about cream cheese, its texture and flavor are directly related to the salting and ripening time used in its production, which, depending on its acidity, makes it unique and different from other equivalent cheeses.

This cheese is marketed in brick shape and is wrapped in aluminum and red or yellow cellophane paper, which become its distinctive feature compared to other varieties.

The town of Pijijiapan is the main producer of cream cheese and together with Mapastepec have the honor of being a center of artisan cheese factories that exceed in number a hundred establishments where you can find Chiapas cream cheese or Chiapas heavy cream.

Meanwhile, Ocosingo’s queso de bola, made from cow’s milk to which extra cream is added, is characterized by its strong flavor along with a creamy, spreadable texture. You will recognize it because it is wrapped in a layer of wax that turns into a hard shell.

Fruits

The range of possibilities for fruits in Chiapas is so wide that it could be described as a complete universe with the most varied options.

From cultivated tropical fruits such as mango (raw, with chili or lemon), soursop, sapote and chincuya, to other wild flavors -some of them almost extinct- such as cundeamor, tachona, maluco, caimito, papause, cuajinicuil, paterna, pomarosa and caco.

For almost five centuries, lemon trees, peach trees, apple trees, cocoa trees and tamarinds with pulpy pods have mixed with the jungle to form a unique space along the coast.

The sapotes, jocotes, mamey, nanche, capulín, avocados, melon, watermelon, cupapé, papaya, cashew, passion fruit and cucumbers, whether fresh, ripe, dried or macerated, are used to prepare ice creams, sweets, juices, mistelas, cocktails or even salads.

The banana in Chiapas is called guineo and its best known varieties are roatan, giant dwarf and chaparro, macho and dominico. Whether in pancakes, fried or roasted, the important thing to know is that it is the second most important source of crops in the state of Chiapas.

Snacks

Snacks are a sign of Mexican identity that is especially relevant in Chiapas. These dishes served as an accompaniment to a drink in bars, cantinas or restaurants are ideal to liven up weekends, holidays or the moment to share with colleagues after a hard day’s work.

These dishes usually have a rather spicy garnish that helps diners keep ordering more drinks to compensate.

Although they may seem like minor dishes, in reality they are not, on the contrary, they are prepared with care, mixing from subtle to the most rustic flavors to offer a varied and exquisite assortment.

The tradition of sausages that we have already mentioned completes the assortment of snacks that you can find in the state of Chiapas.

Sweets

The presence of sweets and pastries in places like San Cristóbal de las Casas is due to the use of local fruits and products, some combined with the influence of the desserts offered in nuns’ convents during the viceroyalty.

You will find from yemitas to gaznates, passing through alfeñiques, panelitas, mazapanes, turuletes, duraznos pasa, mocas or trompadas among many other examples.

Traveling to Chiapas is an incomparable experience for the richness of its landscapes, the friendliness and closeness of its people, and for a local gastronomy rich in nuances, products and flavors.

To make this experience as enriching as possible, we encourage you to be advised by agencies specialized in a la carte trips that will multiply the benefits of your trip to limits you can’t even imagine. To taste the country’s gastronomy in the most authentic way, contact us. Our local experts will design a tailor-made trip that will allow you to discover the best kept secrets of Chiapas gastronomy.