Mexican cuisine can be very strange indeed... but if you're brave enough to give these unusual ingredient a try, you might find your next favorite snack! (Cody Copeland)
Mexican gastronomy is a worldwide favorite, beloved enough that it’s been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Outside of Mexico, it is easy to find guacamole, al pastor-style meat, chilaquiles and tacos of all kinds, as well as other lesser-known foods like pozole or mole. But none of these are unusual kinds of Mexican food.
In Mexico, there are some ingredients considered strange and exotic, even by locals. Some of these were eaten in pre-Hispanic times, while some have been created more recently. Nevertheless, they all are a part of the longstanding artform that is Mexican cuisine. Don’t be afraid to try these!
Chapulines
Chapulines, anyone? (Ana Luisa Gamboa/Unsplash)
Grasshoppers are the most widely known of what could be considered “exotic” Mexican cuisine. There are many different types of edible chapulines found all around the country, but they’re traditionally associated with the state of Oaxaca. One of the most popular ways to eat them is on a traditional Oaxacan tlayuda. Although small, chapulines are high in vitamins and minerals. They’re acidic and crunchy, and delicious on their own.
Iguanas
If you’ve gone to a Mexican beach, there’s a high chance that you have seen an iguana trotting around. They are especially common in the southeast, the region that took to also eating them. Some people say it tastes like chicken.
Maguey Worms
If you’re a mezcal enthusiast, you’ve probably seen one of these little guys lying at the bottom of a bottle. Maybe you’ve even eaten it with your last shot! But you might not know that maguey worms are eaten outside of mezcal, too.
There are actually two types of maguey worms. The red ones are moth larvae that infest magueys and eat them, while the white ones are butterfly caterpillars that grow onthe leaves and roots of magueys. They are expensive because you can only get three or four out of a maguey, which dies after the harvest. They are most commonly consumed in Hidalgo, but also eaten in other states like Tlaxcala. Eat them fried, with butter or olive oil, in a taco.
Escamoles
Mexican “caviar” is made from ant eggs, rather than sturgeon. (Jacob García/Cuartoscuro)
Some people call it the Mexican caviar: ant eggs. Delicious and strange at the same time, escamoles have been eaten here all the way back to pre-Columbian times, which is why they can be easily found in areas closer to historic ruins, like Teotihuacán. The dish’s name actually comes from the Nahuatl words for “ant” and “stew.”
You can find escamoles in soups and tacos, or cooked with butter, onion and garlic. They’re packed with protein and are quite nutritious.
Huitlacoche
Once upon a time, France discovered moldy cheese was actually delicious. Mexicans realized the same thing about corn. Huitlacoche, known as corn smut to English speakers, is a very dark, greenish-blue fungus that grows on ears of corn infected with a pathogenic fungus. It is considered a “manjar” — a delicacy — and is most commonly eaten inside quesadillas or tacos.
Scorpions
Take a trip to Durango to try a local delicacy – fried scorpion. (La Ruta de la Garnacha/YouTube)
Scorpions are found in many places in Mexico, especially areas that are hotter or more humid. This is especially true for Durango, a northern state that has become known for serving these somewhat terrifying arachnids. Although they’re not necessarily a traditional dish, Durango is the place to go for them. Scorpions can be served fried, inside a taco, or on a stick.
Chicatana ants
Chicatana Ants are another Oaxacan delicacy. These huge ants — they grow to between 1.8 and 3 centimeters — are toasted in hot pans and develop a crunchy consistency. Although they can be eaten straight after toasting, one of the most common ways to eat them is to grind them into a salsa. Like many of the other items on this list, they are high in vitamins and minerals. You can find them mainly in Oaxaca, but natives of Veracruz and Tabasco enjoy chicatanas as well.
Jumiles
These are a typical dish of the Pueblo Mágico of Taxco, in Guerrero. They are flying insects that are eaten either inside a sauce or with lime and salt, and — you guessed it — in tacos. Some say they taste like cinnamon, which could be because Jumiles eat the branches and sticks of oak trees. Either way, it’s a strong taste that you either love or you hate.
Collecting jumiles is quite difficult, as they live quite high in the canopy and are fast fliers. Apart from a delicacy, they are also considered sacred by some people in Taxco, as they are considered to be dead loved ones that fly in to visit.
Cuetlas
What meal would ever be complete without a side of butterfly larvae? (Juan Pablo Zamora/Cuartoscuro)
Another pre-Columbian meal, cuetlas — also known as chiancuetla and tepolchichic — are butterfly larvae. These larvae grow on a select few types of trees during the rainy season. They are eaten mainly in Puebla, but you’ll also find them in Guerrero and Veracruz. Their taste is delicious and similar to that of chapulines. Plus, they are rich in protein, iron and vitamin B.
The best way to enjoy cuetla is grilled and inside tacos with guacamole.
Of course, the list does not end here. With some names more eye-catching than others, things like eye tacos, rattlesnakes, pejelagarto fish, rat soup, lake shrimp and brains can also be found in different parts of the country. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a little trip around, do some research and try one — or all!
Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.
Mexicans will vote in the biggest elections in the country's history on Sunday. Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico Earl Anthony Wayne shares his thoughts on the significance of these elections for both Mexico and the United States. (Cuartoscuro)
On June 2, Mexicans will choose a new president, a new congress and many thousands of state and local officials in Mexico’s largest elections ever.
At present, polls show a large advantage to Claudia Sheinbaum, the presidential candidate supported by incumbent President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), over her principal rival, Xóchitl Gálvez, who heads the opposition coalition ticket in Mexico’s presidential elections.
Beyond the presidential race, the outcomes in congressional and state elections will have big implications for the political clout of Mexico’s new president, the temperature of political debates, and the potential for approving major reforms of Mexico’s institutions, championed by AMLO to further his vision of Mexico’s transformation.
As elections approach, analysts in Mexico, the U.S., and internationally have expressed serious concern about the strength of Mexico’s democracy and the potential negative impact of AMLO’s proposed reforms.
Given the closely interconnected relationship between Mexico and the United States, Americans must pay close attention to the outcomes of Mexico’s elections and what follows. The U.S. needs good working relations with its southern neighbor to deal with migration, crime and trade issues.
AMLO is hoping that his allies will win a super majority in both houses of Congress in June, allowing his party to pass proposed constitutional and legal reforms when lawmakers take office in September, and before he leaves office on Oct. 1.
The proposals would significantly alter the workings of Mexico’s electoral authorities, Congress, judiciary, and independent regulatory institutions, among others. The thrust of the reforms as proposed would centralize more power in the executive branch and the presidency. However, there is significant opposition to several proposals, including some that previously spurred mass protests. It is far from clear what may result.
What happens in Mexico is vital for the United States. Mexico is the U.S.’s largest trade and co-production partner, supporting some 5 million U.S. jobs. Most irregular migration crosses the US-Mexican border. Mexico remains the largest single source of U.S. immigrants and the source of family and cultural ties for over 35 million U.S. citizens. Also, the vast majority of the deadly fentanyl fueling U.S. overdose deaths comes in through Mexico.
The U.S.-Mexico relationship is simultaneously domestic and international for both countries. There is much to gain by cooperation, but the policies and politics of both countries often spur tensions and discord. It takes strong political commitment and skillful management to sustain good collaboration.
Of great concern is that the quality of Mexico’s democracy and governance has been declining, according to a variety of reports that compare countries around the world. This alarming trend gets too little attention.
Mexico faces daunting challenges in building prosperity and assuring rule of law. Regular news reports of criminal violence and thriving cartel power underscore this. Mexico has had more homicides during the current presidential administration than during any other presidential term in recent decades. Mexico is ranked as having the third worst criminality score globally, with extortion and other crimes worsening. A key study notes that despite improvements over the past four consecutive years, Mexico was less peaceful in 2023 than it was in 2015. Significant violence has marred the election season and many worry about organized crime shaping local elections.
There are respected international studies that put Mexico’s democracy in a broader perspective, which I summarize below.
The Bertelsmann Transformation Index, covering some 130 countries, shows Mexico dropping in its scores between 2016 to 2024. It argues that Mexico is “currently on a path of de-democratization.” It cites attacks on independent institutions and a significant decline in Mexico’s rule of law and governance scores, among other concerns.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2023 ranks Mexico 90th out of the 167 countries it studied. This index categorizes Mexico as a “hybrid” democracy, which falls below a “full” or a “flawed” democracy. It finds Mexico’s ranking dropped 15% since 2018 and highlights the numbers of civilian deaths related to criminal violence.
International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy Indices, which cover 173 countries, finds that since 2018 Mexico has declined in 12 of the 22 indicators it uses for assessing countries. The biggest declines are in parliamentary effectiveness, freedom of speech, press freedom, judicial independence, predictable enforcement, and strength of civil society.
The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Democracy Reports, which cover 202 countries, find a notable decline in Mexico’s ratings for all of its indexes, and shows particularly large drops in Mexico’s scores for “deliberative democracy,” “liberal democracy,” and “electoral democracy”. V-Dem cites attacks on judiciary and electoral institutions, false government information, and increased polarization, among other issues.
Freedom House’s latest Freedom in the World report, rating some 195 countries, characterizes Mexico as “partly free.” It describes a decline in freedoms beginning after 2017 and flags concerns with organized crime and violence, corruption, lack of government transparency, poor rule of law, and civil liberties more broadly.
The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index finds that Mexico’s rule of law scores declined notably between 2018 and 2023 among the 100 plus countries analyzed, with particularly bad ratings on corruption, security, and criminal justice performance.
The World Bank prepares Worldwide Governance Indicators covering over 200 countries and territories. The data from 2012, 2017 and 2022 show Mexico’s percentile rank declined in every category over the ten years, with the largest drops in government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption.
Finally, a 2023 Pew survey of 24 countries also flashed a warning on Mexico’s democracy. The Pew survey showed that support for a leader making decisions without interference from a parliament or court had grown more in Mexico than in any other country studied (rising 23% to 50% of those polled).
The key point: it is essential to understand Mexico’s current election cycle in the context of the serious concerns raised by expert studies examining democracy and governance around the globe. These echo Mexico-focused analyses by media and organizations about the violation of human rights and civil liberties, attacks on individuals and NGOs that criticize the government, and violence against journalists and activists.
Mexicans of course have the most at stake, but next in line is the United States. The U.S. is invested heavily in ties with Mexico, including a major trade agreement and a massive presence of U.S. companies.
The U.S. will be better off with a strong, democratic Mexican partner to help fortify prosperity and security, just as Mexico needs a strong partner in the United States. Both countries need to understand the trends shaping electoral outcomes on the other side of the border, and engage each other to forge as constructive a partnership as possible. This will bring better outcomes for Americans and Mexicans.
Earl Anthony Wayne is currently teaching as a Distinguished Diplomat in Residence and Professorial Lecturer at American University’s School of International Service. He is a Public Policy Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of its Mexico Institute. Wayne is a former Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and to Argentina and a former Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan.
INE workers in Puebla unload ballot boxes for the Mexican elections, while soldiers and other officials watch. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)
More than 1,000 international observers, including representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United States, Canadian and British embassies in Mexico, will monitor Mexican elections this Sunday.
The National Electoral Institute (INE) announced Sunday that it had accredited 1,309 of 1,355 people who requested to observe the June 2 elections, at which Mexicans will elect some 20,000 municipal, state and federal representatives including a new president.
The requests of 46 people were rejected, mostly because they failed to present all the required documents on time.
The INE said in a statement that the number of requests it received was the highest since 1994, when international observers were first permitted to monitor elections in Mexico.
The electoral authority said that this year’s international election observers come from 63 countries, and noted that visitors from Montenegro, Tanzania and Zimbabwe will monitor Mexico’s electoral process for the first time.
It also noted that 740 of the accredited international observers are men, while 569 are women. Almost 84% are from other countries in the Americas, 12.5% are from European nations, and the remainder are from Africa, Asia and Oceania.
The number of election monitoring requests this year was the highest since 1994, according to the National Electoral Institute (INE). (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The INE listed the “missions” with the highest number of accredited international observers.
They include the OAS (100 accredited persons); the Global Alliance of Young Politicians (94); the United States Embassy (76); the Canadian Embassy (21); the Congress of Guatemala (18); the Congress of Honduras (18); and the British Embassy (10).
Former Chilean minister heads up OAS election monitoring team
The OAS said in a statement last week that its Electoral Observation Mission, led by former Chilean foreign minister Heraldo Muñoz, was arriving in Mexico “in a staggered manner” ahead of the June 2 elections.
“The purpose of the Electoral Observation Missions is to support the improvement and strengthening of electoral processes and systems,” said the OAS, a Washington D.C.-based organization made up of more than 30 member states.
“To achieve this objective, the Mission will have a team of 100 people, including specialists who will analyze issues such as electoral organization; voting abroad; electoral technology; electoral justice; political financing; political participation of women and indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples; political-electoral violence; and campaigns, media and digital communication.”
The OAS said it will deploy observers to all 32 federal entities of Mexico and to five foreign cities: Dallas, Los Angeles, Madrid, Montreal and Washington, D.C.
The Organization of American States (OAS), shown here at a recent council meeting, is one of the organizations sending the most observers to monitor Sunday’s elections. (OEA-OAS/Flickr)
They will “observe the process from the opening of the voting booths to the transmission of the results,” the organization said.
The OAS also said that its Mission to Mexico “expresses its concern about the incidents of violence that have occurred in the context of these elections and particularly deplores the loss of human life.”
The OAS said “in the final stretch of the electoral process,” its Electoral Observation Mission “hopes that citizens and candidates can express themselves freely and that election day takes place free of violence and in a climate of democratic coexistence.”
Violence also a concern for Transparencia Electoral
Transparencia Electoral, a Buenos Aires-based organization dedicated to the promotion of free and fair elections in the Americas, will have 16 accredited international observers monitoring elections in Mexico this weekend.
Luis Miguel Santibáñez, the organization’s coordinator for Mexico and Central America, told the newspaper El Financiero that violence is a major concern in this electoral cycle.
“We’re very concerned about the issue of security; the reports of violence are complex, they’re alarming,” he said.
Armed attackers killed Lucero López Maza, candidate for mayor in La Concordia, Chiapas, in mid-May. (Gaby Coutino/X)
Santibáñez said that it was up to authorities to ensure that citizens can go out and freely participate in the elections this Sunday in that part of the country. He said he hoped the security deployment is sufficient to stop acts of violence that could disrupt the elections in Chiapas or anywhere else in the country.
For his part, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said earlier this month that insecurity was not a threat to elections anywhere in the country. Specifically asked whether elections could go ahead in violence-stricken parts of Chiapas, Michoacán, Zacatecas and Tamaulipas, the president responded:
“Yes, yes they can, yes they can. I’ve been hearing some voices from the conservative [or opposition] bloc saying they don’t want elections in some regions. And I feel that in some cases it has to do with campaigns or politicking.”
Santibáñez said that the elections were taking place in a “climate of polarization” and noted that some people have spoken of an “unlevel playing field” due to the influence of López Obrador, whose political protege Claudia Sheinbaum is the leading candidate in the presidential election.
The Transparencia Electoral official said it was up to the INE to watch over the political “players” to ensure the “integrity” of the elections this Sunday, the largest in Mexican history.
Mexico and Japan have a history extending back over 400 years. (Shutterstock)
The year was 1609 and a Spanish galleon called San Francisco was sailing off the coast of Japan en route to Acapulco from Manila when it shipwrecked.
More than 300 crew members, including the governor-general of the Philippines — part of New Spain at the time — were rescued by Japanese fishermen and taken to Japan, where they would spend a period of months before sailing to Acapulco on a Japanese ship in 1610.
Japanese “Red seal ships” were used for Asian commerce during the first part of the 17th century. (Wikimedia Commons)
Twenty-two Japanese representatives, including the merchant Tanaka Shōsuke, joined the voyage to Acapulco, becoming some of the first known Japanese people to travel to the Americas.
During the time he spent in Japan, the Philippines governor, Rodrigo de Vivero, met with the Japanese shogun of that time and the two men, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), “attempted to establish, through a treaty, the frameworks for a mutually convenient economic and political relationship” between Japan and New Spain, whose capital was Mexico City.
“The shipwreck of San Francisco is significant,” the SRE says, “because it brought about the first direct negotiation between a high-ranking official of New Spain …[and] the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, maximum leader of Japan at that time.”
While the establishment of the independent country of Mexico was still more than 200 years away in 1609, that first meeting between the Philippines governor and the Japanese shogun is considered the “first contact” between Mexico and Japan and is therefore said to mark the commencement of “exchange,” if not ties, between the two countries.
Former Mexican president Felipe Calderón and Yukio Hatoyama, the Japanese prime minister, at a meeting in 2010 in celebration of 400 years of friendship. (ALFREDO GUERRERO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Celebrations to mark 400 years of friendship between Mexico and Japan were held in both countries in 2009 and 2010, and the Mexican president at the time, Felipe Calderón, visited the East Asian constitutional monarchy in the latter year.
“During these four centuries … [Mexico and Japan] have systematically strengthened their economic, political and cultural ties while forging a solid friendship based on mutual understanding and cooperation,” Calderón wrote in a op-ed published by The Japan Times during his visit.
In this article — the first of Mexico News Daily’s “Global Mexico: Japan in Focus” series — I will examine how the relationship between Mexico and Japan has evolved over the centuries, and take a look at the state of bilateral affairs today.
A brief history of Mexico-Japan relations
Known as Sakoku or “closed country,” Japan’s isolationist foreign policy came to an end in the early 1850s when the United States sent warships there and forced Japan to enter into a Treaty of Peace and Amity.
According to Mexico’s Embassy in Japan, the decision to end the isolationist policy “was received with interest in Mexico,” which at the time had been an independent country for some three decades.
In 1888 — 279 years after “first contact” was made — Mexico and Japan signed a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation in Washington D.C.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the pact — with which bilateral relations were formally established — as “Japan’s first ‘equal’ treaty with a Western country.”
Mexico’s president at the time was the iron-fisted Porfirio Díaz, while Japan’s leader was Kuroda Kiyotaka, the country’s second prime minister.
Japanese prime minister Kuroda Kiyotaka was in power when Mexico and Japan signed a bilateral treaty in 1888. (Wikimedia Commons)
In an article alongside Calderón’s piece in the Japan Times, Mexico’s Embassy in Japan said that the 1888 treaty “was a key support for Japan in the renegotiation of unequal treaties held with Western powers.”
“For Mexico, it was the first diplomatic instrument with an Asian country by which it renewed its old bonds with that continent,” the article continued.
Trade between Mexico and Japan increased in the subsequent years.
In 1897, less than a decade after the treaty took effect, 35 members of “the so-called Enomoto Colonization Party” settled in Chiapas, “marking the first organized emigration from Japan to Latin America,” according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
“Some people fled after just a few months,” but six Japanese people who stayed went on to form an association in Acacoyagua, Chiapas, that was involved in a range of activities in Chiapas including the education of children at the first Japanese school in the Americas, according to Discover Nikkei.
There is a monument in Acacoyagua, Chiapas to Japanese emigrants who arrived there in 1897. (Historia de Acacoyagua blog)
“In 1902, Tsunematsu Fuse and his wife … arrived and educated second generation Japanese and Mexicans. They also made a great contribution to the local community by compiling a Spanish-Japanese dictionary, laying waterworks and building bridges,” the article said.
Meanwhile, bilateral relations between Mexico and Japan chugged along, and the two countries signed another treaty in 1924 that “updated” some of the points in the 1888 one, according to the SRE.
Less than two decades later, the bilateral relationship came to a halt.
In 1941, amid World War II, Mexico suspended its diplomatic relations with Japan and shut down its missions in that country in response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.
More than a decade passed until the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations in 1952, when famed writer Octavio Paz was dispatched to Tokyo as Mexico’s ambassador for a brief period.
Two years later, Mexico and Japan signed a cultural agreement that paved the way for exchange and collaboration in a range of areas.
In 1959, Mexico welcome a Japanese prime minister for the first time when Nobusuke Kishi visited, while Mexican president Adolfo López Mateos traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun in 1962 to open a new Mexican Embassy.
In the 1950s and ’60s, several major Japanese corporations including Marubeni, Mitsui, Mitsubishi and Sumitomo began operating in Mexico. Others would follow in subsequent decades.
During the first two decades after bilateral relations were reestablished, “trade and financial transactions as well as investment flows between the countries grew significantly,” according to the Mexican Embassy, while in the 1970s, the relation “registered a qualitative jump” when Mexico became a significant exporter of oil to Japan.
President Adolfo López Mateos (far left) met with Hirohito, the emperor of Japan (far right), on his tour there in 1962. (Culture Ministry/INAH)
In 1977, the Liceo Mexicano-Japonés, a school, opened in Mexico City, allowing more collaboration and exchange between citizens of Mexico and Japan.
The following decade, during the Latin American Debt Crisis, Japan provided significant monetary support to Mexico.
According to the SRE, Japan was Mexico’s second largest international creditor in 1987 with 29 Japanese banks providing loans totaling US $16.11 billion or 15% of Mexico’s total foreign debt at the time.
In 1989, the Japanese government lent Mexico more than $2 billion, an amount higher than the sums Mexico received amid the debt crisis from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, according to the SRE.
The loan helped Mexico provide “the necessary guarantees” to creditors as it attempted to restructure its debt, the Foreign Ministry said.
The bilateral relationship in the 21st century
Trade
Mexico and Japan today have a significant commercial relationship, with two-way trade worth more than US $24.5 billion in 2023, according to Mexican government data.
Mexico shipped exports worth $3.97 billion to Japan last year, while Japanese imports were worth $20.6 billion. Mexico was thus left with a trade deficit of $16.63 billion with Japan in 2023.
Mexico’s top export to Japan last year was copper ores and concentrates, which brought in $402 million in revenue. Among Mexico’s other exports to Japan are machinery, pork, tuna, tequila and fruit.
Japanese car maker Nissan is one of the most prominent in the Mexican market. (Nissan México)
Japan’s top export to Mexico in 2023 was motor vehicles, which brought in $1.95 billion in revenue. Japan also exports a range of other products to Mexico, including auto parts and audio and video equipment.
Japan had a 3.45% share of Mexico’s import market last year, according to the Bank of Mexico, while Mexico’s share of Japan’s market was just 0.67%.
The commercial relationship between the two countries grew significantly after an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that liberalized bilateral trade took effect in 2005.
In 2015, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that trade between Mexico and Japan had increased 71% since the trade pact went into force, while Mexico’s exports to Japan doubled. Trade between the two countries has continued to grow since then.
Japan’s ambassador to Mexico, Noriteru Fukushima, said last December that nearshoring was expected to increase Japanese investment in Mexico by up to 66% in 2024.
“Many from Japan want to know what is happening in Mexico, what’s going to be done in Mexico, what Mexico is going to be like because many companies are coming because of nearshoring,” he said at the 33rd Mexico-Japan Business Plenary Meeting.
Japan’s ambassador to Mexico, Noriteru Fukushima, said Japanese companies are looking to expand their investment in Mexico to capitalize on the nearshoring opportunity. (Cuartoscuro)
According to the Economy Ministry, Mexico received a total of $34.2 billion in foreign investment from Japan between January 1999 and December 2023.
Around 1,300 Japanese companies operate in Mexico including large automakers such as Toyota and Mazda, air conditioner manufacturer Daikin, tire manufacturer Bridgestone and electronics company Sony.
Among the Mexican companies that operate in Japan are fruit and vegetable producer and processor Grupo Altex and KidZania, owner of an international chain of family entertainment centers.
Multilateral cooperation
Mexico and Japan collaborate in a number of international forums including the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, and the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, or OECD.
According to the SRE, Mexico has worked “hand in hand” with Japan in the G20 to “build agreements and find collective solutions to the common problems the world faces.”
In January of last year, Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s foreign minister at the time, met with Yoshimasa Hayashi, who was Japan’s foreign minister between 2021 and 2023.
“The relationship with Japan is a strategic and deep relationship … because of history and culture, and because today there are 1,300 Japanese companies in Mexico, and thousands of jobs. … We have a shared future and what we want is to broaden it,” Ebrard said at the meeting.
Marcelo Ebrard met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in 2023. (Gob MX)
For his part, Hayashi said that “Japan and Mexico are strategic global partners who share fundamental values based on a solid friendship and trust.”
The two countries current foreign ministers, Alicia Bárcena of Mexico and Yōko Kamikawa of Japan, met in Brazil earlier this year at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
“Secretary Bárcena … expressed Mexico’s high appreciation and great confidence in its relationship with Japan, and her expectations for further investment in Mexico by Japanese companies, especially bearing in mind the importance of nearshoring and relocation, in electric mobility and large-scale infrastructure projects in Mexico,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said in a statement.
The new agreement allows Emirates customers to fly from Mexico City to 21 destinations in Mexico as well as several cities in the U.S. (Unsplash)
Mexican airline Viva Aerobus signed an interline agreement with Dubai-based Emirates, enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling from the Middle East to Mexico.
The partnership will increase access to multiple destinations in Mexico while also unlocking more international routes for Emirates passengers, including 20 convenient flight options that connect six points in Mexico with several popular cities in the United States.
In September, Emirates announced a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, bringing its number of destinations in Mexico to 8. (Emirates)
Executive Vice President and Chief Planning and Alliances Officer at Viva Aerobus Javier Suárez praised the agreement in comments published by Emirates’s press office last week.
“We are excited about this new partnership with Emirates. … [which] allows passengers from the many Mexican cities to make a short stop in Mexico City, board an Emirates flight to reach the great city of Barcelona and/or to continue their trip to Dubai and beyond. All of this with the convenience of buying a single ticket,” Suárez said.
Emirates’ offered a similar statement: “We are pleased to activate an interline partnership with Viva Aerobus to deepen our reach in Mexico beyond Mexico City,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer. “This new offering is in line with our Fly Better promise … and we look forward to further developing the partnership in the future to elevate its benefits for our customers.”
The interline agreement will allow Emirates customers to fly from Mexico City to 21 domestic destinations while benefiting from the convenience of the two airlines’ one-bag-on-one-ticket policy.
Aviación Online reported that travelers arriving to Mexico City from Dubai will now be able to connect to other Mexican destinations including Acapulco, Cancún, Guadalajara and Monterrey. The interline network will also feature direct flights to Mexico City from Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Miami, among other U.S. cities.
In addition, Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of the Dubai-based carrier, operates two freighter services in the country, to Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Mexican authorities detained the alleged head of security for Los Chapitos, Néstor Isidro Pérez or "El Nini", last November. (Sedena/Cuartoscuro)
Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, the alleged security chief for the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel known as “El Nini,” was extradited to the United States on Saturday, U.S. authorities said.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland both issued statements to announce the extradition of Pérez, just six months after his arrest in Culiacán, Sinaloa, last November.
The U.S. ‘grateful’ for alleged security chief’s extradition
Biden noted that the suspect known as “El Nini” faces charges in the United States “for his role in illicit fentanyl trafficking and for murdering, torturing, and kidnapping numerous rivals, witnesses, and others.”
“This is a good day for justice,” he said before thanking President Andrés Manuel López Obrador “for his decision to extradite this dangerous criminal.”
Garland said that U.S. authorities “allege El Nini was one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s lead sicarios, or assassins, and was responsible for the murder, torture, and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel’s criminal drug trafficking enterprise.”
Prior to his extradition, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency was offering up to US $3 million for information on El Nini. (U.S. DEA)
“… I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini. With this enforcement action, El Nini joins the growing list of cartel leaders and associates indicted in, and extradited to, the United States,” added the attorney general.
Pérez faces organized crime, weapon possession, fentanyl trafficking and money laundering charges in the state of New York. He also faces a range of charges in the District of Columbia.
Prior to his arrest, U.S. authorities were offering a US $3 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Pérez is allegedly the leader of “Los Ninis,” the security apparatus of Los Chapitos, led by sons of El Chapo, including Ovidio until his arrest.
El Nini allegedly spearheaded Los Chapitos’ war against rival criminal group Los Rusos — another faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García — for control of Mexico’s northwest border region. His nickname is a derogatory term for a person who neither works nor studies.
Biden said Saturday that the U.S. and Mexican governments “will continue to work together to attack the fentanyl and synthetic drug epidemic that is killing so many people in our homelands and globally, and to bring to justice the criminals and organizations producing, smuggling, and selling these lethal poisons in both of our countries.”
Thinking of visiting Mexico and want to find the best cities for LGBTQ+ communities? Look no further. (Michael Balam/Cuartoscuro)
Are you considering a vacation to Mexico and wondering if Mexico is safe for LGBTQ+ travelers? And what is the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in Mexico? If you have your heart set on sipping authentic margaritas on a pristine beach, you’ll be delighted to know that gay rights in Mexico surpass those in many countries worldwide.
Historically, Indigenous populations such as the Zapotec and Maya have long accepted sexual fluidity, and same-sex sexual acts were decriminalized in the country in 1871. Today, same-sex unions are federally recognized and same-sex marriages are performed in 18 of Mexico’s 31 states. LGBTQ+ couples are also free to adopt children. Thanks to a pair of rulings in 2015 and 2016 by Mexico’s highest judicial body, laws banning gay marriage and gay adoption in Mexico were declared unconstitutional. This year, Congress voted to ban so-called “conversion therapies.”
Mexico has strong legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community, and most major destinations are welcoming of queer visitors. (Facebook/Gay Games 2023)
Although Mexico is generally very gay friendly, it should be noted that some regions are more so friendly than others. Mexico City’s Zona Rosa — which spans 16 blocks and is home to more than 200 gay-owned businesses — rivals San Francisco’s Castro District. Other parts of Mexico, such as Guadalajara, Monterrey, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana, are also considered extremely welcoming.
Nowadays, a trip to Mexico often means visiting the country’s capital, so it’s worth asking: is Mexico City safe for LGBTQ+ travelers? The answer is yes. In fact, it may be one of the most gay-friendly cities in the Americas. The city’s annual Pride festival, which debuted in 1978, attracts several hundred thousand people, while other cities and towns also draw large crowds for annual festivities.
Mexico is the sixth most visited vacation destination in the world, and most of the country is very LGBTQ+ friendly. But to make your gay vacation even more special, stay in a gay-friendly space. In Mexico, there are several cities and destinations known for being welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. We’ve included some of the best below.
Mexico City
Mexico City’s Zona Rosa is a hub for LGBTQ+ nightlife in the city. (Your Friend the Nomad)
Mexico’s capital is recognized as one of the most open and progressive cities in Latin America in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. There are many bars, clubs, restaurants and events aimed at the LGBTQ+ community in neighborhoods such as Zona Rosa and Condesa. Here are a few of its more famous bars:
Tom’s Leather Bar: A gay men-only bar with dance music, cocktails and a late-night party atmosphere. It has a leather aesthetic and a cozy atmosphere for the leather community.
El Almacen: One of the oldest gay bars in Mexico City, it continues to attract guys who look like they could handle heavy machinery with themed parties, drag nights and events.
Guilt: Perfect for dancing, this place is only open on Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tip: Say “Vania” when paying the entrance fee for a discount.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara’s pride march is one of the most famous in the country. (Fernando Carranza Garcia/Cuartoscuro)
This Bajío city has a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and is famous for its annual Pride march, which attracts thousands of people. Zona Chapultepec and Zona Rosa are popular areas for LGBTQ+ nightlife and events. Visit in February to get involved with Guadalajara’s month-long Carnival celebrations marking the start of Lent.
California’s Bar: A favorite bar for locals that attracts a diverse crowd, from cowboys to college students. Housed in a historic Spanish colonial building the thick concrete walls are packed each weekend with Guadalajara’s dancing gays amongst giant video screens.
Voltio: Catering exclusively to men, this lounge has soft lighting and nice decor to boot. Voltio is known for its energetic underwear parties, leather scene and strippers — who bare all!
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is famed across the world for its LGBTQ+ friendly clubs. (Mantamar)
Jalisco’s Pacific coast hub is a tourist destination known for its acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. The Romantic Zone is the heart of the LGBTQ+ scene in Puerto Vallarta, with a wide variety of gay-friendly bars, clubs and restaurants. The city’s gay clubs are outstanding and always busy.
There’s a huge variety of establishments, so you can enjoy everything from relaxed cocktail bars to strip clubs. Many bars also sell Purple Hand, a domestically produced beer marketed to the LGBTQ+ population. Winter sees Puerto Vallarta at its busiest, with top drag performers from Provincetown escaping the chill of the U.S. northeast and descending on the city’s myriad gay-run venues, bars and clubs.
La Noche: One of the largest and most popular clubs in Puerto Vallarta, with multiple floors, varied music and drag shows.
CC Slaughters: Offers a mix of pop music, themed events and drag shows in a lively and festive atmosphere.
Reinas Bar: This bar is known for its drag shows and its festive and cozy atmosphere.
Mérida
It might be the most socially conservative place on this list, but Mérida still welcomes LGBTQ+ visitors to the Yucatán. (Mérida Gay Tours)
Although more conservative than the other cities on this list, Mérida has been developing an active and visible LGBTQ+ population in recent years. Neighborhoods such as Santiago and Santa Ana are known for being more welcoming. As for the gay bars Merida has in store, most are located downtown, on Calle 60, but it’s easy to meet like-minded people in the many cantinas, restaurants and bars around town, you’ll find acceptance and friendly tour operators to help ensure your time is memorable for all the right reasons.
Casa Chica: This relaxed, queer-friendly eatery offers a laid-back space to grab brunch by day and a few cocktails after sundown! Enjoy a decadent slice of chocolate mousse while sipping on an Aperol spritz before hitting the dance floor.
Casa Pompi: A queer-friendly underground dance club offering a unique space to party til the sun comes up! Enjoy a drink on the rooftop patio before heading below to boogie the night away.
Mezcaleria La Fundación: Start your night off by getting a drink at this local cantina specializing in mezcal. They often feature live bands playing anything from funk to reggaeton and DJs that spin into the night.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen offers something for everyone, including LGBTQ+ travelers. (Top Adventure)
This Riviera Maya tourist destination has gained popularity among the LGBTQ+ population due to its relaxed and tolerant atmosphere. Quinta Avenida is the main place for nightlife and has several gay-friendly bars and clubs. This street is also home to the annual Playa Pride festival, a week-long celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights.
Club 69: A bar and club with electronic music, drag shows and a vibrant atmosphere. The club is a popular spot for drag performances.
Habana Night Club: This gay bar in Playa del Carmen is closer to the federal highway than to the beach. It is distinguished by its good music, good cocktails, food options and, above all, lots of local people looking for fun.
These are just a few examples, but in general, most major cities and tourist destinations in Mexico tend to be quite inclusive and welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ community. The scene can vary by city and season, so it’s always a good idea to do some research before heading out and connecting with the local LGBTQ+ population by contacting local LGBTQ+ organizations or online communities to get insider tips on the best LGBTQ+ friendly establishments and events.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
A molcajete is an essential piece of Mexican kitchenware. (Balam GDL/Shutterstock)
Molcajetes have been used across Mesoamerica for centuries and are cherished as one of Mexico’s most beloved kitchen tools. A three-legged stone mortar, the molcajete is made of volcanic stone, as is the tejolote, its cylindrical pestle.
To “molcajetear” — Mexico has a knack for turning nouns into verbs — means pressing and grinding ingredients against the walls of the molcajete, imparting a unique flavor and texture.
Ok, so you’ve bought a molcajete. Now what? (Turismo Comonfort/Facebook)
Its rough surface is perfect for grinding and crushing a variety of ingredients. Perfect for creating unique flavors and textures, the molcajete is a beloved tool for making salsas, guacamole, dips and marinades. It’s also ideal for grinding spices and herbs, releasing their aromatic oils. Even nuts and seeds can be ground to create flavorful pastes and powders. The molcajete’s rustic charm and efficient grinding capabilities make it a cornerstone of authentic Mexican cooking.
Traditional molcajetes have always been made of volcanic stone, which is natural, non-toxic and safe for food processing. Crafting a molcajete involves a centuries-old carving technique. When you buyone made of volcanic stone, you’re supporting artisans’ craftsmanship and livelihoods.
How to tell if a molcajete is authentic
Buying an authentic molcajete isn’t just about bragging rights. Nowadays, there are many cement replicas for sale that can deceive buyers. The big reason to avoid cement molcajetes is that they’re not safe for cooking. Cement wears away when ground, releasing toxins and paint into your food. So, how can you tell if the molcajete you’re eyeing is made of volcanic stone or cement?
Volcanic stone has pores, since it was once lava cooling off, passing tiny sulfuric bubbles to its surface. Some molcajetes will have a lot of wide pores, while others may have very small orifices. However, all of them have a rugged surface that makes them effective for grinding. A very smooth surface without pores is usually an indicator of a cement piece.
In Comonfort, Guanajuato, you can find authentic volcanic stone molcajetes, considered the best material of all. (Turismo Comonfort/Facebook)
A cement molcajete will absorb water and become evenly soaked, while volcanic stone holds water without absorbing it. However, some volcanic stone pieces have too many wide pores and can leak. While this type may still be an authentic piece, it won’t be a good option for salsa making, as the liquid will filter out.
The ultimate test is curing the molcajete, as one made of volcanic stone will immediately release sediments as part of the process.
How to cure your new molcajete before using
Molcajetes need to be cured before you use them, because the natural stone tends to release residues that you don’t want in your food. Curing for kitchen duty is a simple process involving rice, salt and a little elbow grease:
Thoroughly rinse and scrub your molcajete with a scrub brush.
Grind a handful of raw rice and coarse salt with the tejolote. The ground mix will come out a grayish color since it’s catching fine pieces of stone and sediment.
Repeat with new raw rice and coarse salt until this mix comes out white, signaling a that the curing process is complete.
Rinse with water. Voila! Your molcajete is ready to rock.
Salsa roja molcajeteada
There is nothing more essential to a classic salsa roja than red chilis. (Agro-Cultura Mexicana)
There’s nothing quite like a salsa roja molcajeteada — oh yes, Mexico also loves turning nouns into adjectives. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started. Remember, salsas are an art form, not an exact science. Channel your inner maestro when picking the type and amount of ingredients you use.
3 red chilis
3 tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch salt
Fresh cilantro
Roast the chiles, garlic, and tomatoes on a comal until softened.
In your molcajete, grind coarse salt and garlic until smooth. Add remaining ingredients one by one and continue grinding until achieving your desired consistency.
Gently grind the cilantro leaves as the last ingredient, leaving them somewhat whole.
If necessary, adjust with additional liquid ingredients like water, lemon juice or oil to suit your preferences.
Serve your salsa in the molcajete for an authentic look and feel that’s sure to impress.
How to wash your molcajete after using
Make sure to clean properly after using to prevent any food from getting stuck inside the pores. (Local MX)
Rinse and use a scrub brush to remove the scraps of food that can get stuck in the stone’s pores.
Fill with hotwater and let it soak for about 15 minutes.
Keep in mind that molcajetes absorb odors, so wash with a small amount of unscented soap if necessary.
If your molcajete smells bad, rub with half a lime and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with hot water.
To prevent mold, make sure your molcajete is completely dry before storing.
Molcajetes are more than just a tool
Molcajete can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective. Why stop there? When you see molcajete as a dish on a menu, they’re offering you another level of deliciousness.
A molcajete contains a medley of grilled meats, vegetables, cheese and salsa. This dish, meant to be shared, is served in a big warm molcajete in the center of the table. Everyone dives in with a warm tortilla in hand. It’s a joyful dining experience made special by the beauty of a molcajete overflowing with tasty goodies.
Here’s a fun tidbit: I’ve seen people find solace in the act of grinding with a molcajete. Rhythmically grinding stuff with your sheer force can release pent-up energy and emotions. Who knew that whipping up a sassy salsa could be so therapeutic?
Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]
Puebla residents shovel hail that seemingly struck out of nowhere on Friday. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)
Residents of central Mexico may have thought they were accompanying Dante through the Inferno in a freakishly wild weekend for weather.
Extreme heat, destructively strong winds and a consequential hail storm — all accompanied by flooding — tormented central Mexico beginning on Friday.
Mexico City continues to break records in what feels like the city’s hottest spring season in history. (Edgar Negrete/Cuartoscuro)
In a “be careful what you wish for” moment, residents of the city of Puebla, who may have been wishing for relief from the heat wave, were stunned by a wicked storm that pounded them with hail for 30 minutes on Friday afternoon.
The squall covered streets in up to 50 cm of accumulated hail, nearly burying several cars in one neighborhood, toppling trees and producing flooding across the Historic Center and the northwestern part of the state capital.
Winds of up to 50 km/hr collapsed the roof of an auto dealership and a department store, knocked trees onto a housing project, blew over billboards and caused a power outage.
City and state civil protection agents were out in force to survey the damage and assist the public in digging out from the hail drifts. Police rescued a young girl who was being swept away by floodwaters, but no casualties were reported.
✅Es una corriente que desciende desde la nube a gran velocidad, trayendo abundante granizo y viento que puede superar los 80 km/h pic.twitter.com/7OXlVXAdXz
— 🌲⛈️Meteorología México🌧️🌳 (@InfoMeteoro) May 24, 2024
Residents of Puebla shared videos of the intense rain and hail storm on social media.
Meanwhile in Mexico City, capitalinos sweltered in the extreme heat all weekend. Sunday was the third consecutive day in which a record was set. The mercury hit 33.8 degrees Celsius (93˚F), which is a new all-time record for May 26.
A day earlier, the temperature topped out at 34.7C, surpassing the all-time record set on May 9. Friday’s high also climbed above 34C, setting a new record for May 24.
National Meteorological Service (SMN) data confirms that record-setting temperatures are likely to continue through June, the newspaper Debate reported on Sunday. Mexico’s current heat wave — the third of an expected five heat waves this season — has seen temperatures above 45 C in parts of the country.
The Monday morning forecast from SMN warned that 19 states will experience extremely hot temperatures this week. Intense storms and high winds remain in the forecast for northern Mexico, where gale-force winds destroyed a stage at a political rally on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring dozens.
The temperatures up north are expected to ease slightly in the coming days, according to the weather site Meteored, but tropical humidity will arrive in its place. The emerging weather system will bring heavy rains in parts of central and southern Mexico, and states in the west and northwest should be prepared for extremely high winds.
Strong winds caused accidents in two municipalities on Sunday, Xonacatlán (pictured) and Ixtlahuaca. (@UniondeMorelos/X)
Dozens of people were injured on Sunday when strong wind caused large tarpaulins to collapse at two campaign events in México state.
The México state government said in a statement that 58 people sustained minor injuries at an event for a mayoral candidate in Xonacatlán, while around 20 people became trapped when a tarp collapsed at an event for a mayoral candidate in Ixtlahuaca, according to reports. Three people were reportedly injured in the latter incident.
The accident in Xonocatlán left 58 people injured, though most were able to be treated on-site. (Protección Civil Edomex/X)
In Xonacatlán, located about 60 kilometers west of downtown Mexico City, 55 people were treated on-site for minor injuries while one person sought medical care at a hospital “by their own means,” the México state government said.
Two other people were taken to hospital by ambulance, one of whom was suffering a nervous breakdown, the government said.
In Ixtlahuaca, located around 100 kilometers northwest of Mexico City, three people suffered “bumps” when the tarp and the structure supporting it collapsed, according to the Excélsior newspaper.
Paramedics and other emergency personnel assisted and treated the injured in both Xonacatlán and Ixtlahuaca.
The accidents occurred at “close of campaign” events for Morena party mayoral candidates in the respective municipalities.
They happened five days after strong wind caused a stage to collapse at a Citizens Movement campaign event in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León. Nine people were killed at that event and more than 100 others were injured.
Morena’s mayoral candidate in Xonacatlán, Alfredo González, said that “strong gusts of winds” brought the tarp down at his event.
The party’s mayoral candidate in Ixtlahuaca, Guadalupe Díaz said in a video message that heavy rain and strong wind caused the tarp to collapse at her event.
“Fortunately, … there aren’t lives to mourn,” she said.
Díaz and González are among hundreds of candidates vying to become mayors in the 125 municipalities of México state, Mexico’s most populous state.
Mexicans will elect some 20,000 municipal, state and federal representatives — including a new president — in the country’s largest ever elections this Sunday.
