Tajín seasoning facts for kids
Tajín Clásico seasoning
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| Type | Garnish, condiment, or ingredient |
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| Main ingredients | Chili, lime, salt |
Tajín Clásico, often called simply Tajín, is a popular Mexican spice mix. It's made mostly from lime, chili peppers, and salt. People use it to add a special flavor to many different foods.
Contents
The Story Behind Tajín
The idea of mixing chili and lime has been a part of traditional Mexican cuisine for a long time. People often put this mix on fruits and vegetables. Mexicans also love combining salty and sweet flavors in their food.
Tajín Clásico was created in 1985 by Horacio Fernández. He wanted to make a powdered version of a tasty sauce his grandmother used to make. Horacio named his new product after an ancient place called El Tajín. This is a famous archaeological site in Mexico that he visited and really liked. He also noticed that the word ají, which means chili, sounds similar to "Tajín."
Tajín Clásico first came to the U.S. in 1993. It quickly became a popular seasoning, especially in Texas. In the 2000s, the Tajín brand started selling its products all around the world.
What's in Tajín and How It Tastes
Tajín Clásico seasoning is the company's most famous product. It's a powder made from ground chili peppers like chiles de árbol, guajillo chili, and pasilla chili. It also contains sea salt and dried lime.
This seasoning is a reddish powder with a grainy feel. It tastes sweet, salty, and sour all at once. The chili peppers give it a mild heat, but the strong lime flavor is what you taste most. Tajín also adds a nice reddish color to whatever you sprinkle it on. Its grainy texture can make dishes more interesting to eat.
How People Use Tajín
Tajín is super versatile! You can use it in many ways. It works as a garnish (something you put on top), a condiment (like ketchup or mustard), or even an ingredient in recipes. People use it on both sweet and savory dishes.
It's very common to see Tajín on fresh fruit, but it's also great on vegetables. You can add it to dips, sauces, and even desserts. Some people put it in drinks like micheladas or use it to rim the glass for a margarita. It can also be rubbed on meats, chicken, or fish before cooking. Some even use it instead of salt on omelets or popcorn!
Who Makes Tajín
The company that makes Tajín is called Empresas Tajin. Horacio Fernández started it in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1985. At first, he sold the spice mix by going from store to store. Today, the company is located in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Other companies, like Trader Joe's, Trechas, and Lawry's, also make similar chili-lime products.
Gallery
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Tajín seasoning in a bowl
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Watermelon with Tajín sprinkled on top
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Elotes (Mexican street corn) with Tajín
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Mandarin oranges and popcorn, both sprinkled with Tajín
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Mango with Tajín from a street vendor
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A Margarita glass rimmed with Tajín
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Other Mexican Flavors
Mexican cuisine has many other interesting flavor combinations.
- Chamoy is a sauce made from fermented fruit and chili peppers.
- Sal de gusano is a seasoning made with dried worms and chili peppers.
- Sal de chapulin is made with dried grasshoppers and ground chili peppers.
Mexican food also has other flavored salts and many candies that are both sweet and spicy or tart, like Brinquitos.
See also
In Spanish: Tajín (condimento) para niños
- List of culinary herbs and spices
- Company website
