A Hibiscus margarita looks great on social media - but it tastes even better. (Minimalist Baker)
The Hibiscus-infused Margarita cocktail is the perfect way to show off your refined palate and love for floral flavors, along with a bonus of getting tipsy.
Tequila, lime juice, and triple sec make up the holy trinity of margaritas, but let’s be honest, sometimes you just want more. Enter hibiscus syrup, the trendy third wheel that spices things up with a tart twist. It’s like the cocktail equivalent of wearing an oversized belt buckle — unnecessary but totally making the outfit.
Hibiscus flowers, known in Mexico as Flor de Jamaica, are a Mexican drink classic. (Ikon Aromatics)
The secret ingredient that takes your margarita from “meh” to “magnificent,” hibiscus syrup is made by simmering dried flowers in water, orange peels, and sugar. The syrup works in this recipe because the floral notes pair perfectly with the citric/herbal notes in tequila which you then reinforce with the citric notes of the orange peel. Plus, the stunning ruby-red color it gives your drink. It’s a sweet and tart concoction that proves even your drinks can have a personality complex.
Hibiscus syrup gives your cocktail that “I spent way too much time making this” vibe, but really, it’s just boiling flowers in water and sugar. Congratulations, you’re a mixology genius now!
Hibiscus Infused Margarita
Ingredients:
For the Hibiscus Syrup:
1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers (also known as flor de Jamaica)
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
Orange peel of one orange
For the Margarita:
2 oz tequila (preferably blanco)
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz hibiscus syrup
1/2 oz triple sec (or another orange liqueur)
Ice
Salt or sugar for rimming (optional)
Lime wedge and hibiscus flower for garnish
Instructions:
Prepare the Hibiscus Syrup:
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the dried hibiscus flowers, orange peel, and sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Reduce heat and let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture is vibrantly colored and slightly thickened.
Remove from heat and let it cool. Strain out the hibiscus flowers and transfer the syrup to a bottle or jar. Store in the refrigerator.
Make the Margarita:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, fresh lime juice, hibiscus syrup, and triple sec.
Shake like your life depended on it until well chilled.
Serve:
Strain the margarita into a glass filled with ice. You can use a rocks glass or a margarita glass, depending on your preference.
Garnish with a lime wedge and a hibiscus flower.
For those who like their drinks with a side of “I’m tough,” add a salt rim. If you’re feeling sweet, a sugar rim will allow you to pretend this is somehow dessert. Garnish with a lime wedge and a hibiscus flower to make it Instagram-worthy, because, after all, if you didn’t post it, did you even drink it?
Enjoy your intensely colored and tantalizingly tart Hibiscus Infused Margarita and let me know what you think. Salud!
Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean.
A new chocolate bar, Lucid Mind, seeks to boost kids' mental health in a form they'll appreciate. (Paola Verde/Tecnológico de Monterrey)
Among our rich variety of animal and plant-based products, Mexico is home to cacao, the key ingredient in chocolate. A beloved treat for children and adults alike, cacao has been used in different products — edible and otherwise — for hundreds of years. Biotechnologist Paulina Faccinetto Beltrán was building on this legacy when she developed Lucid Mind, a chocolate bar designed to enhance children’s cognitive abilities and protect their brain health.
The idea for Lucid Mind originated during Faccinetto’s master’s studies at the Guadalajara campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. “My goal was to create a functional food that promotes health,” she shares. “After researching contemporary health issues, I chose to focus on children,” she shares in an interview. The challenge was to create a product that would be good for and liked by children.
The pioneer of Lucid Mind, Paulina Faccineto is a PhD student in Biotechnology at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. (Paola Verde/Tecnológico de Monterrey)
The science behind Lucid Mind
Scientific evidence supports the benefits of chocolate for children, and Faccineto explains that including probiotic compounds in Lucid Mind aims to further enhance these effects. The chocolate bar is also enriched with omega-3 and vitamin D3, which are proven to support mental health. They help improve concentration, boost memory, and reduce attention problems in children.
By choosing milk chocolate as the delivery vehicle, Faccinetto and her team ensure the product is both effective and appealing. What kid wouldn’t love to have a bar of chocolate a day? It’s no coincidence that a bar a day is exactly the recommended dose for this product.
Prioritizing mental health from a young age
When asked why it is so important to safeguard children’s cognitive health from an early age, and if Lucid Mind is an attempt to make children “smarter,” Faccinetto emphasizes that today’s children may face higher risks of depression and dementia as they grow if their memory is not nurtured. Lucid Mind aims to prevent cognitive decline and memory issues later in life by addressing these concerns during childhood.
While it’s natural for memory to decline with age, Faccinetto advocates for early intervention. “We need to address these issues much earlier,” she states. “The goal is not to create child prodigies but to ensure mental well-being. But we will have smarter children and less learning difficulties,” particularly as modern lifestyles — marked by fast-paced, hyper-connected environments — increase stress statistics on younger generations.
Mexico ranks sixth in the world for the number of children who suffer from diabetes, so the idea of supporting children’s health with chocolate is bound to raise eyebrows. When questioned about the potential impact of sugar in Lucid Mind, Faccinetto says that the product is formulated with active probiotic compounds, which not only mitigate any negative effects of sugar but also serve as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective agents for the brain. Combining these elements with catechins and chocolate’s natural antioxidants makes Lucid Mind a potent ally in promoting children’s cognitive health.
From concept to reality
Lucid Mind is currently in the patent process with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). The product is also part of De la Ciencia al Mercado (From Science to the Market), a program of the government of Jalisco aimed at fostering technology-based startups using university research.
During the testing phase, Faccinetto confirmed that consuming a daily portion of Lucid Mind does not lead to harmful effects like obesity. However, she advises that children’s health, including conditions like diabetes, must be considered before consumption. A child with diabetes would not be a candidate for this preventive treatment.
As Lucid Mind prepares to enter the market, it has undergone various market studies to identify potential suppliers. In the coming months, clinical trials will be conducted in a school, where children will consume the chocolate daily for three months. These trials will assess the Lucid Mind’s impact on their memory and monitor other factors, such as the children’s weight.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
An official with the Chinese electric car manufacturer says that it is still committed to building a manufacturing plant in Mexico and plans to discuss its plans with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum (Shutterstock)
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has rejected a Bloomberg News report Tuesday that said the company has postponed a final decision about its proposed plant in Mexico until after the United States presidential election.
“BYD hasn’t postponed any decision about a Mexico plant,” the company’s Americas CEO Stella Li said in a statement, according to Reuters.
BYD officials have said that the proposed plant would build cars for the Mexican market. (BYD)
Indeed, BYD’s general director for Mexico Jorge Vallejo said last month that the company is aiming to settle on a location for its proposed plant by the end of the year. A plant decision after the Nov. 5 election is in line with that timetable.
In the BYD statement — which was apparently sent to Reuters and does not appear to be publicly available — Li described Mexico as a “very relevant” market for the company. She reiterated that the plant here will make electric vehicles solely for the Mexican market and not for export to the U.S. or anywhere else.
Reuters didn’t say that Li refuted other aspects of Bloomberg’s reporting, including that a decision on BYD’s proposed plant could be affected by the result of the U.S. presidential election and that the company has paused its search for a suitable location in Mexico.
In reporting that BYD wouldn’t announce a major plant investment in Mexico until at least after the U.S. presidential election, Bloomberg cited unnamed people it said were familiar with the automaker’s plans.
Vallejo said last month that the Shenzhen-based company was considering locations in three Mexican states for its proposed plant. However, several of Bloomberg’s sources said that BYD has stopped actively looking for now.
The sources told Bloomberg that BYD postponed its plant decision largely because the electric car company first wants to see who wins the U.S. presidential contest between former president Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
If BYD is indeed pausing its decision on a Mexico plant until after the U.S. election, it could be that the Chinese automaker is worried about possible future impacts of the election on the terms of the USMCA free-trade pact, of which Mexico is a member. (Kamala Harris/X)
They told Bloomberg that “BYD’s paused factory plans” could be revived or may change. No final decision has been made, they said.
Bloomberg’s reporting comes six weeks after Elon Musk said that Tesla’s planned “gigafactory” project in Nuevo León was “paused” because of the possibility that Trump will impose tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico if he wins the U.S. presidential election.
The explanation for the decision appears strange, given that Trump has made no such threat, and because under the USMCA free trade pact, electric vehicles (EVs) made in Mexico by Tesla — a U.S. company — would not be subject to tariffs when exported to the U.S., provided that they comply with the USMCA’s rules of origin for content.
In May, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said “stay tuned” when asked whether the U.S. would introduce any protectionist measures aimed at EVs made in Mexico by Chinese companies. The U.S. government has already announced 100% tariffs on EVs made in China.
BYD’s general director for Mexico Jorge Vallejo said last month that BYD plans to finalize a location for a Mexico plant by the end of 2024. (Jorge Vallejo/LinkedIn)
BYD, which has been selling some of its EV models in Mexico since 2023, has dealerships in major Mexican cities, including Mexico City, Querétaro and Guadalajara. It has also licensed sales of its cars to seven regional automotive sellers in Mexico, as well as the nationwide department store chain Liverpool.
“Our plan is to build the facility for the Mexican market, not for the export market,” she said in February.
In an interview with Reuters last month, Vallejo didn’t reveal which three states BYD was considering for its proposed plant.
But Bloomberg reported Tuesday that one area under consideration is near Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco. BYD representatives visited the state in March.
A BYD Mexico showroom in Guadalajara, opened in 2023. (BYD)
Bloomberg also said a plant in Mexico “could be one of BYD’s key overseas production sites, along with plants that it’s currently building or already operating in Brazil, Hungary, Turkey and Thailand.”
Li told Bloomberg in late August that she planned to meet with Claudia Sheinbaum at some stage to discuss BYD’s plans. The president-elect will take office on Oct. 1.
The Mexican government is keen to attract foreign investment, announcing tax incentives late last year to encourage nearshoring to Mexico.
But Chinese-owned automotive plants don’t appear to be at the top of its wish list.
The jobs of 9 Supreme Court justices will be up for grabs in the 2025 udicial elections. (SCJN)
Supreme Court (SCJN) justices will stop work to protest the federal government’s judicial reform proposal, joining employees of Mexico’s highest court who have already gone on strike.
The SCJN said in a statement on Tuesday that eight justices voted in favor of suspending activities, while three opposed the move.
Out of over 3,600 workers employed by the Supreme Court, 1,072 participated in a vote on Monday and the majority were in favor of a strike. (Cuartoscuro)
Court sessions scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been suspended, the statement said, adding that the justices “will assess the prevailing situation” next Monday.
The statement also said that the justices agreed to attend to “urgent matters” during their suspension of activities. Nevertheless, their decision to stop work will cause an “operational paralysis” in the SCJN, the Milenio newspaper reported.
The three justices who voted against stopping work — Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, Loretta Ortiz Ahlf and Lenia Batres Guadarrama — were all appointed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who sent the judicial reform proposal to Congress in February and argues that the country’s judiciary is corrupt and needs renewal.
On Monday, the vast majority of more than 1,000 SCJN employees present at a meeting voted in favor of job action. The court employs a total of 3,647 workers.
Critics of the constitutional bill — which would allow citizens to directly elect Supreme Court justices and other judges — assert that its approval would undermine the independence of the judiciary.
U.S. Ambassador Salazar again made remarks criticizing the government’s judicial reform proposal at a press conference on Tuesday. (Cuartoscuro)
United States Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar earned a rebuke from López Obrador late last month after asserting that the “popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.”
Salazar also claimed that “the debate over the direct election of judges … as well as the fierce politics if the elections for judges in 2025 and 2027 were to be approved, will threaten the historic trade relationship we have built, which relies on investors’ confidence in Mexico’s legal framework.”
He made similar remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, saying that the reform could cause “a lot of damage” to the Mexico-U.S. relationship “if it’s not done well.”
“… I’m saying this because of all the concerns that are reaching me from people who truly want the best for Mexico and the United States. What I can say is that there is a great deal of concern,” Salazar said.
Deputy Ricardo Monreal at the alternative venue selected by Morena to hold a legislative session on the judicial reform on Tuesday. (Cuartoscuro)
However, the ruling Morena party organized the transfer of the legislative session to a recreational center in the Iztacalco borough of Mexico City. The session was scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. Mexico City time, with a vote on the constitutional bill expected sometime in the late afternoon or on Tuesday night.
As of Sept. 1, Morena and its allies have a two-thirds majority in the Chamber of Deputies, allowing them to approve constitutional reforms without support from opposition lawmakers.
Though many of Canirac's 2024 awards went to chefs and restaurants in Mexico City, the nation's biggest restaurant association also recognized winners outside the capital. Here, Rosalba Morales Bartolo, chef and owner of Quiroga, Michoacán's Casa de Rosalba restaurant, poses with her award for 2024's Traditional Cook of the Year. (Government of Michoacán)
Mexico’s national restaurant association Canirac has named Pepe Salinas — of the contemporary Mexican eatery Balcón del Zócalo in Mexico City — as Chef of the Year in its 2024 Restaurant Merit Awards.
The results of the 33rd edition of the annual awards — for people and restaurants that elevate Mexico’s restaurant industry — were announced last week in a ceremony at the Ex-Convento de San Hipólito in Mexico City.
Canirac’s Chef of the Year 2024 winner Pepe Salinas, center, celebrates his win with staff at Balcón del Zócalo in Mexico City. (Pepe Salinas/Instagram)
Canirac’s voting committee included insiders and experts from Mexico’s tourism, gastronomy and academic fields.
Canirac is arguably Mexico’s most prestigious restaurant trade association, representing more than 670,000 gastronomy establishments nationwide, according to its website.
The association’s award for Restaurant/Business of the Year went to Grupo Dinar and its founder and CEO, Javier Romo Aramburo.
Mexico City–based Grupo Dinar’s restaurants include Ling Ling by Hakkasan (Asian-inspired cuisine in a sky-high setting); the STK steakhouse; the restaurant chain El Cardenal (a 55-year-old favorite serving traditional foods) and Restaurante Diana, which offers regional favorites in the capital’s luxurious St. Regis hotel on Paseo de la Reforma.
Grupo Dinar, winner of the Business of the Year award, owns several restaurants around Mexico City, including the historic El Cardenal chain of restaurants, housed in historic and architecturally unique buildings around the capital. This one, in the San Ángel neighborhood, is a former mansion featuring expansive stained-glass windows, an elegant staircase and an open kitchen. (El Cardenal)
At stylish and noise-balanced Balcón del Zócalo, Salinas exudes a “nonconformist and creative character [that] has led to the development of a cuisine that takes risks,” according to the restaurant’s website. Salinas aims to create dishes and tasting menus that “surprise and excite diners in search of new experiences,” the site adds.
For example, there is an “experience menu” that changes with the seasons. The current one, which lasts through Sept. 21, is called “Day Zero.” Its offerings relate to a time in the future when water shortages will be commonplace, if not catastrophic.
The experience begins with a glass of water served from a jug in the shape of Tlaloc, the Mexica god of rain, and then a paleta (popsicle) made with sangrita, tequila and lemon and served on a rock meant to represent a meteorite (some of which have water inside).
Salinas’ latest “menu experience” creation, “Day Zero,” at Balcón del Zócalo restaurant in Mexico City, evokes the diner to contemplate a day in the future where Mexico City runs out of water. Click on the image to see a video presentation of the “Día Cero” menu experience by the restaurant.
There is also a dish inspired by Michoacan’s drought-stricken Lake Pátzcuaro: a melon aguachile on a corn tostada and freeze-dried strawberry, served on a porcelain plate that mimics a dried, cracked, exposed lake bed.
Each of the winners received a sculpture designed by Mexican artist Miguel Michel.
“This industry is made up of a large family willing to satisfy the needs of customers with the recipe that only Mexican gastronomy has: quality and warmth in service,” said Daniela Mijares, Canirac’s executive president. “Customers are the basis of what we are today: one of the most important industries for the growth of Mexico.”
This year’s winners
Restaurant/Business of the Year: Javier Romo Aramburo, Grupo Dinar (Mexico City)
Chef of the Year: Pepe Salinas, Balcón del Zócalo (Mexico City)
Young Chef of the Year: Thalía Barrios García, Levadura de Olla (Oaxaca)
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Braulio D. Cárdenas Abedrop (Saltillo, Coahuila)
Outstanding Mexican Chef Abroad: Indra Carrillo Perea, La Condesa (Paris, France)
Pastry Chef of the Year: Marisa Lazo Corvera, Pastelería Marisa (Guadalajara)
Traditional Cook of the Year: Rosalba Morales Bartolo, La Cocina de Rosalba (Quiroga, Michoacán)
Director of the Year: Hugo Antonio Magaña Iñiguez, Santas Alitas (Guadalajara)
Best Mexican Kitchen: Nixtamal, Cooking with Fire and Ash (Bacalar, Quintana Roo)
Best Preservation, Knowledge and Promotion of Mexican Gastronomy: Itanoní (Oaxaca)
Best Foreign Specialty Food: Zeru (Mexico City)
Best Restaurant Innovation: Mezcal Cultural Center (Oaxaca)
Best Hotel Restaurant: Ramona, NIZUC Resort & Spa (Cancún)
Mixologist of the Year: Claudia Cabrera, Kaito del Valle (Mexico City)
Barista of the Year: Matías G. Durán Quintanar, The Quantum Crack Coffee Roasters (Querétaro)
Sommelier of the Year: Priscila Frausto Torres, Pangea Group (Nuevo León)
Best Commitment to Sustainability and a Green Mexico: Green Me (Puebla)
In addition, awards were handed to honor those with a long record of dedication and commitment.
The list of 12 people with more than 20 years of experience at the same restaurant or in the same restaurant group was headed by Victoria Saldaña Silis (64 years with the Sanborns national chain of restaurants) and Juan Segura Segura (53 years at Restaurant Estoril in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City).
Also honored was Ricardo Muñoz Zurita, a chef-turned-researcher who has been a pioneer in examining and raising awareness of Mexico’s regional cuisines. Going forward, the Young Chef of the Year award will be named for him.
Earlier this year, the Michelin Guide announced its first star ratings for Mexico. Two restaurants received two stars and 16 got one star. Levadura de Olla in Oaxaca was the only restaurant on both the Michelin list (one star) and the Canirac list (an award for young chef Thalía Barrios García, who also won Michelin’s young chef award earlier this year).
U.S automakers that manufacture in Mexico — like Ford and General Motors — will be hardest hit by the tariffs, Sheinbaum said. (X)
The Ford Motor Company in Mexico has announced a planned investment of US $273 million in its Irapuato Electric Powertrain Center (IEPC) in the state of Guanajuato, which manufactures motors and transaxles for the first 100% mass-produced electric vehicle completely made in Mexico.
“We celebrate this decision, which we see as a recognition of the great work of our employees and the quality of the products we manufacture,” said Ricardo Anaya, head of manufacturing at Ford’s Mexico and Latin America division. “This new stage allows us to create synergy between plants and drive development in the country.”
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a fully electric version of the classic muscle car, produced and assembled in Mexico across various plants. (Ford)
The plant, which began operations seven years ago building transmissions for gasoline vehicles, has transitioned since 2021 into a production center for Mach-E parts. The Mach-E — sold in 41 countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe, and also in Australia — is assembled in Ford’s plant in Cuautitlán Izcalli, México state.
The transition to an EV motor manufacturing plant in Irapuato required a complete facility renovation and rigorous training for employees, said Anaya. It now operates cutting-edge equipment that uses artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in the manufacturing process.
Guanajuato, a Mexico car manufacturing hub
The Central-Bajío region of Mexico is a major automobile manufacturing hub in Mexico and Latin America. Some of the major brands that have settled here include General Motors, Honda, Mazda and Toyota.
Reader beware: Despite the reviews, this is not a four star bedroom. Or is it? (Tripadvisor)
It was a couple of weeks ago that I decided my kid should get some pool time before the start of school. How could I make this happen?
First, I needed to make it happen in Veracruz. My partner has been working there for a few months now, and we wanted to hang out with him. Besides that, swimming in a place where the water isn’t ice cold was also a priority!
All I wanted was a nice swim at a decent pool – but it’s never that easy in Mexico. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
But public pools aren’t really a “thing” around here, and water parks in my area — balnearios — tend to be either really pricey or really grimy. Both, of course, are always crowded.
Some hotels will offer a day pass to use their pools, which is what we typically use in Xalapa. This usually consists of either a flat per-person payment or a consumo mínimo, a minimum per-person restaurant bill. The fancy hotel I had in mind, sadly, was 800 pesos for just an adult day pass. Yikes!
I initially began looking around the Facebook pages of the downtown hotels I knew of. This is, I’ve found, the best way to figure out which hotels you can swim at without having to pay for a room. Soon, though, I had a better idea: why not just book a room and be able to nap and relax right there after? Besides, this would also give us two days of pool time — kind of. I congratulated myself on my genius idea and got to searching.
I settled on a hotel right in downtown Veracruz that showed a four-star rating. The pictures of the pool were gorgeous, and indeed, the pool was gorgeous, if simple. And the deal was fantastic, especially given the rating. Score!
Pictured: A totally different hotel (don’t sue me). (Booking)
The lobby was grand, the staff friendly. They let me park in their hotel parking and start using the pool before check-in time, keeping our bags behind the desk. Because I do not wish to bad mouth the hotel to everyone, I will not be naming it. This article is simply a quick heads up regarding a lesson I learned there: hotel star ratingsaren’t actually standardized. That means that who or what has determined a star rating is anyone’s guess: it might even be the hotels themselves.
I suppose I should have been suspicious when the price of a four star hotel seemed so reasonable. But there’s construction work being done around it, so I figured they were lowering their prices temporarily to get people in the door.
It’s not the first time giving the benefit of the doubt hasn’t worked out for me.
Again, the lobby was beautiful. So far, so good. The front-desk staff was nice enough, but dressed casually. Hmm, I thought. Well, it is hot out there. When they stashed my bag on the floor behind the desk, though, I started to feel suspicious.
But no matter! They were going to let us use the pool! We grabbed our swimsuits, asked for some towels and headed over.
It could have been so easy – head to Veracruz, get in the pool, lie on one of these with a beer and relax. Did that happen? Not without pain. (Dayso/Unsplash)
Absent dressing rooms near the pool, we changed in a regular bathroom, careful to not let our clothes fall into the toilet. Not the most comfortable situation, but whatever. Accustomed to luxury hotels I am not. And besides, my kid had the time of her life in that pool!
When we retrieved the room key and headed up by the old, rickety, elevator, I became suspicious. Four stars for a hotel that has clearly not been updated in the past 30 years?
The room was pretty to look at. But there weren’t enough towels, the beds and pillows were rock-hard and the bathroom had not been thoroughly cleaned.
Later I called down to reception on the ancient phone for room service, but the scannable menus were evidently not the ones they had down in the restaurant. No, I would not like to pay 450 pesos for three empanadas and a cup of tea.
Show me the hotel that doesn’t have one of these in 2024, and I’ll show you a hotel that has definitely misrepresented the number of stars it has. (Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash)
The biggest sin to me, however, was the absence of a coffee maker. No fridge or microwave I could live with, but this was unforgivable.
We made the best of it, and I grouchily waited to leave for breakfast to get coffee.
But my kid — she loved it. She looked right past the grimy bathroom with nary a bathmat in sight, and relished the bathtub. She slept soundly.
In the end, I think I got about what I paid for.
But if we stay there again, I’m packing my coffee maker.
The first cold front of the season and a tropical wave will produce severe weather conditions across 29 of Mexico’s 32 states. (Michael Balam/Cuartoscuro)
Virtually all of Mexico is under alert for heavy rains on Tuesday as the first cold front of the season and a tropical wave combine to produce severe weather conditions across 29 of Mexico’s 32 states.
A broad weather front, reinforced by a mass of cold air, is interacting with the Mexican Monsoon to bring rain and electrical storms to the north. Meanwhile, Mexico’s midsection and southern states will be affected by Tropical Wave No. 20 and humid air drifting in from both coasts.
En el siguiente mapa de #México, consulta las condiciones de #Lluvia, #Viento y #Tolvaneras que se prevén para las próximas horas.
The combined effects of the phenomena will produce warm temperatures throughout the day.
The weather agency Meteored projects that the tropical wave will cause electrical storms and hail storms in western Mexico, while humid air from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico will clash, resulting in severe weather conditions for central Mexico.
Tuesday’s storm forecast by state
Up to 150 mm of rain: Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas.
50-75 mm of rain: Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
25-50 mm of rain: Sonora, Chihuahua, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Morelos, México state, Mexico City, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) cautioned that heavy rains can produce landslides and warned the public to be alert to fast-rising rivers and flooding.
The SMN bulletin also predicts the storms will bring sustained high winds (40-60 km/h) in Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Sonora. Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Campeche and Zacatecas can also expect strong winds.
Meteored predicts damp conditions throughout the rest of the week, forecasting intense rains (75-100 mm) up north (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Durango, Sinaloa) and along both coasts (Nayarit, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz).
Thursday will see more of the same, with 19 states projected to receive at least 50 mm of rainfall.
Similar conditions are expected for the central and western regions of the country through the second week of September with rainfall decreasing during the second half of the month.
The Fuente de los Coyotes pays homage to Coyoacán’s name, often translated as the “place of the coyotes.” (David Polo/Cuartoscuro)
Who lives here
The Historic Center of Coyoacán comprises several smaller neighborhoods, including Villa Coyoacán, Del Carmen, Santa Catarina and La Concepción. Its bohemian lifestyle attracts young families and artists, while its proximity to UNAM makes it a hub for students. According to government data, 23% of the borough’s inhabitants are between the ages of 25 and 49. There is a notable mix of newcomers and families that have lived here for generations, adding to the area’s eclectic feel.
A litany of colorful characters have lived in Coyoacán’s Historic Center, notably Frida Kahlo, León Trotsky, Octavio Paz and Rufino Tamayo — as well as at least three Mexico News Daily staff members.
A brief history of Coyoacán
The Colhuas of Culhuacan transformed the future Coyoacán into an urban center, settling here in the 7th century. In the 15th century the Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco arrived, displacing the Colhuas and establishing the area as a center of trade, agriculture and commerce. At some point, the settlement acquired its current Nahuatl name, which is most often translated as “place of coyotes.”
Coyoacán’s strategic position on Lake Texcoco caught the attention of the Mexica, who soon seized the area from the Tepanecs. Plazas, residential zones and temples were constructed to the chagrin of the conquered Tepanecs, the majority of whom detested the Mexica. In 1521, Hernán Córtes and his allies launched their campaign against the Mexica Empire, they chose Coyoacán as their headquarters, establishing the town of Villa Coyoacán. A strategic location, abundant agricultural resources and local support made the cultural hub an ideal place to become the first capital of New Spain.
The Chapel of Santa Catarina, the home of one of Coyoacán’s most pleasant plazas. (Santa Catarina/Wikimedia Commons)
Coyocán remained its own municipality until 1857, when it was officially incorporated into the Federal District. It retained its small-town and semi-rural character until sometime in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was swallowed up by the urban sprawl of what is now Mexico City. The borough of Coyoacán, taking its name from the ancient town, was designated in 1928, and is still the physical heart of Mexico City, sitting dead in the center of the metropolis.
A guide to Coyoacán today
Today, the quaint Barrio Mágico is known for its cobblestone streets, colonial architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The weekends are especially lively. Expect streets lined with food carts selling everything from churros to esquites, live music in Plaza de La Conchita and various amusement park-style rides for the little ones. Don’t miss the neighborhood dance party on Sunday evenings at the Jardin del Arte Allende.
The Saturday art market in Plaza Allende is smaller than its more famous cousin in San Ángel, but still worth checking out if you find yourself in the area.
Coyoacán is great if: You love Spanish colonial architecture, colorful facades, traditional festivals and an authentically Mexican community.
Plaza Hidalgo and Plaza de la Conchita: Two lively squares surrounded by cafes, restaurants, street performers and food carts. The church in the center of the square is said by some to be Mexico’s oldest. The two are linked by Calle Higuera, believed to be the first street laid down by the Spanish during the early days of the conquest. Visit weekend mornings for a chance to jam with unofficial resident band KoolBananas, while enjoying coffee and cake from one of the coffee shops that dot the square.
Jardín Centenario: Home of the famous Coyote Fountain.
Avenida Francisco Sosa: A charming, tree-lined street with colonial-era architecture and art galleries. Attractions include the Casa Alvarado — the last residence of Nobel prize winner Octavio Paz, now home to the National Sound Archive — and some of the best coffee and wine stores in the city.
Viveros de Coyoacán: A 39-hectare park and tree nursery with trails and — you guessed it — trees. Thousands of them. Keep in mind that food is not allowed in the park, and security searches bags at the gate.
Honorable mentions: Though not in the Historic Center proper, any visitor to the borough of Coyoacán should see the Anahuacalli Museum, which houses Diego Rivera’s personal collection of pre-Columbian art, and the central campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2007. The surrounding area is also home to major sports teams, notably soccer giants Club América and rugby titans Coyotes.
Viveros de Coyoacán is the borough’s largest park and an urban oasis in the south of the city. (Mexico City Government)
Mercado de Comida de Coyoacán: Located at the tip of Calle Higuera, on the corner with the main square, visitors can make the most of a genuinely authentic street food market.
Tacos Chupacabras: A legendary taco stand known for its special “Chupa Cabra tacos,” which are a mix of chorizo and carnitas, garnished with various toppings.
Mi Compa Chava: The second branch of Chef Salvador Orozco’s Sinaloan-style restaurant is never not packed with seafood lovers. The ambience alone is worth the wait for a table.
Antojitos Lupita at Parque Frida: Locals swear blind that Lupita’s gordita cart, at the corner of Parque Frida Kahlo serves the best tacos and gorditas in Mexico City. Who are we to argue with local knowledge?
El Convento: Set in a 15th-century convent, sip tequila and enjoy high-end local cuisine in what is believed to have been the country’s first nunnery.
Los Danzantes’ Mexico City branch can be found in Coyoacán and is every bit as good as the more illustrious Oaxaca site. (Los Danzantes/Facebook)
One hidden gem
The Callejón del Aguacate, or Avocado Alley. Legend has it that in the 1930s, a uniformed soldier was sauntering down this tiny alley when a young boy, captivated by the soldier’s appearance, asked to play with him. The boy was so insistent that the soldier lost his head and killed the boy.
His regret mounted so much that he did what any repentant murderer would do: supervise the construction of a Virgin Mary statue at the site of the child’s death. In this way, all future visitors to the alley could be given the opportunity to clean their sinful slates by offering prayers to the statue. Some say, if you tune in, you can feel the boy’s spirit wandering the alley.
Have we missed any must-see sights in out Coyoacán guide? Let us know down below!
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
Valeo's investment will focus on integrating skills and competencies from all engineering disciplines, including software, systems validation and electronic design. (@makugo/X)
French automotive supplier Valeo inaugurated an addition to its Technical Development Center in Querétaro on Thursday.
Valeo will invest US $165 million in the new Valeo Mobility Technical Center (VMTC) as part of the company’s plan to invest US $500 million in Mexico over the next four years.
At the inauguration, Governor Mauricio Kuri (center) pointed out that nearly 9% of Valeo’s 113,000-strong global workforce is based in Mexico. (@makugo/X)
Jeffrey Shay, president of Valeo in North America, explained that the investment in Querétaro will focus on integrating skills and competencies from all engineering disciplines, including software, systems validation and electronic design.
Initially, Valeo, which supplies a wide range of products to automakers, will hire a team of 150 technicians but expects to employ more than 500 as the project progresses.
“This expansion … is a reflection of the fact that Querétaro is doing well,” Kuri wrote. “Above all, it reflects the great work that the people of Querétaro do every day. We wish Valeo the best of success in this new stage!”
The governor pointed out that nearly 9% of Valeo’s 113,000-strong global workforce is based in Mexico.
Kuri also lauded Valeo’s commitment to environmental sustainability, calling it a priority of his administration. In 2021, Valeo committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and expects to reach 45% of its objective by 2030.
French Ambassador to Mexico Delphine Borione (left) praised Querétaro’s competitive advantage, calling it an attractive location for French companies to invest. (@FranciaenMexico/X)
Querétaro’s Sustainable Development Secretary Marco Antonio Del Prete said the state is now home to seven specialized automotive technical centers and more than 50 industrial technical centers overall.
“Querétaro is not only becoming a reference point for the auto sector but for industrial design as well,” he said.
Also at the inauguration, France’s Ambassador to Mexico Delphine Borione said Querétaro is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, citing the state’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
Borione described Querétaro as an attractive location for French companies to invest, citing the positive reviews offered by French multinational aerospace and defense corporation Safran and aircraft manufacturing company Airbus.
Marco Hernández, director of Valeo México, said the new center will change the way people think about mobility and automotive technology and will confirm Querétaro’s position as a center of innovation.
“The VMTC is not just a place where we develop advanced technologies,” Hernández said. “It will also be a meeting place for talented people across Mexico.”
With these people and their ideas, “we will create the future of the automotive sector based on software,” he added.
