Pinole facts for kids
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Pinole
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| Type | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Latin America |
| Main ingredients | Maize and cacao |
| Similar dishes | Gofio |
Pinole, also known as pinol or pinolillo, is a special powder. It's made from roasted corn that's ground up. Then, it's mixed with yummy things like cocoa, cinnamon, chia seeds, or vanilla. This powder is super healthy! People use it to make cereals, baked goods, tortillas, and drinks. The word pinole comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "cornmeal."
Today, many people still make pinole by hand. They use old-fashioned ovens and tools. It's popular in many parts of Latin America. Pinole is even the national drink of Nicaragua and Honduras!
Contents
What Makes Pinole Healthy?
Pinole is packed with good stuff for your body. It has important vitamins and nutrients. These include protein, amino acids, fiber, and antioxidants.
Because it has a lot of fiber, pinole makes you feel full for a long time. This is because the corn digests slowly. For many native people in Mexico and Central America, pinole is a very important food. It gives them the energy and nutrition they need.
Pinole and the Tarahumara Runners
Pinole is a main food for the Tarahumara people. They are also called Rarámuri, which means "footrunners." These people live in the Copper Canyon area of Mexico. They are famous for being amazing long-distance runners.
The Rarámuri wear special sandals called huaraches. These sandals have soles made from old tire treads. Before big races, they drink bajíachi, which is a corn beer, and eat pinole. This helps them run for incredibly long distances!
Pinole in History and Sayings
The town of Pinole, California got its name from this special food. In the early 1700s, a Spanish explorer named Don Pedro Fages traveled through California. His soldiers ran out of food. They met a group of Native Americans who gave them a meal. This meal was made from acorns, seeds, and wild grain. The Native Americans called it "pinole." So, the soldiers named their camp "El Pinole."
There's a fun saying in central Mexico about pinole. During Carnival, groups of young people would go from house to house. They would ask for pinole, but it was served without water. Sometimes, it even had chili pepper in it! This made it very hard to swallow. This custom led to a popular saying: El que tiene más saliva, traga más pinole. This means, "Whoever has the most saliva, swallows the most pinole." It really means that the person with the most skill will get the most done!
Where to Find Pinole Today
You can sometimes find real pinole in small markets. These are usually in rural areas of Mexico and Central America. It's often made by hand and sold as a powder in cloth bags.
Some companies also sell pinole. Purely Pinole, based in Los Angeles, California, sells it in stores across America. They use a special purple corn. Mazeria, a company from Texas, also sells traditional pinole. Pinole Blue, a company from Wichita, Kansas, sells different kinds of blue corn pinole mixes. They became popular on TikTok by sharing their story and connecting with customers.
See also
In Spanish: Pinole para niños
