Prior to Candlemas Day, the website specializing in gastronomy, Taste Atlas, presented a special ranking of the best tamales in the world.
Despite being an emblematic dish of Mexican cuisine, Mexican tamales did not manage to occupy the first place on the list, being surpassed by Colombian tamales from Tolima.
The first five places
The first place is occupied by the tamales from Tolima, a version originating in Tolima, Colombia. These tamales stand out for their mix of ingredients such as corn dough, peas, carrots, potatoes, chicken, pork, rice and spices. They are wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for four hours, achieving a robust flavor and a unique texture.
In second place, the corunda tamales from Michoacán, Mexico, a Mexican dish similar to a tamale. Made with corn flour dough, these tamales are usually filled with double cream cheese and sliced poblano peppers. Sometimes, they are presented without filling and accompanied with cream or hot sauce, highlighting the versatility of Mexican cuisine.
Third place goes to the tamalito from Amazonas, Peru, known for its small size and dry texture. Made with a mixture of green corn and lard, these tamales are steamed in corn husks, highlighting the simplicity and authenticity of Peruvian flavors.
In fourth place is the nacatamal from Nicaragua. This tamale is made with corn dough and stuffed with chicken or pork, wrapped in banana leaves. Its distinctive flavor comes from ingredients such as bell peppers, garlic, potatoes, rice, sour orange, and herbs such as mint.
Finally, in fifth place, are the paches from Guatemala, a variety that uses mashed potatoes instead of corn dough. This tamale incorporates achiote, allspice, and lard, and is filled with meat, tomatoes, garlic, chili peppers, and bell peppers, achieving a complex and delicious combination of flavors.
In the ranking, Mexico stands out again in eleventh place with the tamales de capitas or seven leathers from Oaxaca. These are characterized by their corn dough filled with a paste of roasted chili peppers, garlic, onion, roasted avocado leaves and black beans.
It should be noted that these positions are based on the ratings they received, as they can also be classified by the most popular.
Source: infobae
