Visitors examine ceramics from the exhibit "Forms and colors of pre-Roman Italy" at the National Museum of Anthropology last year. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Time Out Mexico magazine has revealed Mexico City’s most-visited museums of 2024, led by the world-renowned National Museum of Anthropology.
Time Out gathered data from the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to find which of the capital’s 188 museums were the most popular.
Here is the ranking of the most-visited museums, according to Time Out.
1. National Museum of Anthropology (MNA)
Regarded as one of Mexico’s most iconic museums, the MNA saw a record 3.8 million visitors last year, taking the crown as the city’s most-visited museum in 2024.
With 2.6 million visitors in 2024, the National Museum of History in Chapultepec Castle secured second place in the ranking. This figure was just shy of pre-pandemic figures, as it attracted 2.8 million visitors in 2019.
The National Museum of History received over 2.6 million visitors in 2024. (Museo Nacional de Historia)
The museum features 12 exhibition rooms that follow Mexico’s history from the conquest of Tenochtitlan to the Mexican Revolution.
3. Palace of Fine Arts Museum
Coming in third place, the Palace of Fine Arts Museum saw 1.6 million visitors in 2024, a significant increase from the 642,368 guests it registered in 2018.
This museum serves as the city’s main venue for showcasing both national and international artists through its temporary exhibitions.
4. The Frida Kahlo Museum (also known as the Blue House)
Though precise numbers were not available, estimates suggest it attracted around 750,000 visitors last year.
Frida Kahlo was born, grew up and died in “the Blue House,” located in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacán. (Museo Frida Kahlo)
Kahlo’s museum in the Coyoacán borough showcases the artist’s personal belongings, including original furniture, photographs, private letters, original dresses and more.
5. National Museum of Art (MUNAL)
With 518,762 visitors last year, the MUNAL came in fifth place. Located in the Historic Center of Mexico City, it houses a vast collection of Mexican art, from the colonial era to the first half of the 20th century.
6. Templo Mayor Museum and Archaeological Zone
Located at the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center, this archeological site drew 489,233 visitors in 2024. While its numbers have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, they still lag behind pre-pandemic figures, when it reached 912,673 visitors.
7. Franz Mayer Museum
Inaugurated in 1986 with the private collection of German businessman Franz Mayer Traumann, this museum saw 370,000 visitors in 2024. According to the museum director, Giovana Jaspersen, this all-time record figure is thanks to a temporary exhibit on the wildly popular children’s show, ‘31 minutos.’
8. Modern Art Museum
The Modern Art Museum made it into the top 10 with just 294,570 visitors last year, a significant decrease from the 606,714 visitors recorded in 2018.
The museum showcases the history of modern art in Mexico with a collection of works that date from the 20th century until today.
The Museum of Modern Art and its outdoor sculpture gardens welcomed almost 300,000 visitors in 2024. (Gobierno CDMX)
9. National Museum of World Cultures
In 2024, the National Museum of World Cultures, located next to the National Palace in Mexico City’s Historic Center, saw 274,905 visitors. This figure is significantly lower than the 567,997 visitors registered in 2019, but an increase compared to the 179,078 visitors in 2022.
This museum houses a collection of art donated by foreign countries, including pieces from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia.
10. Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art
With 267,560 visitors in 20214, the Tamayo Museum surpassed its pre-pandemic numbers, as it reached 205,118 visitors in 2018.
Located in Chapultepec Park near the MNA, this museum houses a wide collection of national and international modern and contemporary art.
Trump is expected to sign a slew of executive orders before his supporters this evening. (X)
President Donald Trump announced plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in his inauguration speech on Monday. This was just one of several executive orders promised by the president on his first day in office.
“A short time from now, we will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” President Trump said during his inauguration speech.
Trump says that he Will shortly rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”.
Fact: This will cost America and American businesses tens of millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/T5znlosB7b
Trump had previously stated his intention to rename the body of water in a press conference on Jan. 7. He also suggested he might pursue U.S. control into Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada.
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” Trump told reporters. “What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by saying that the body of water was internationally recognized as the Gulf of Mexico and that on historical maps, North America was labeled as Mexican America.
“I mean obviously ‘Gulf of Mexico,’ the name is recognized by the United Nations, an organism of the United Nations. But next, why don’t we call it ‘Mexican America’? It sounds nice, doesn’t it?” Sheinbaum said, pointing to a map from 1607 projected on a screen during her daily press conference on Jan. 8.
The president shot back at Trump on Jan. 8, suggesting that the United States be named “Mexican America.” (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Republican representative from the state of Georgia Marjorie Taylor Greene directed her staff to draft legislation to make the name change so “Gulf of America” could be officially used on federal maps and administrative policy. While the new name could be used at the federal level, other countries would not need to accept it.
“It’s our gulf. The rightful name is the Gulf of America and it’s what the entire world should refer to it as,” Green said in a press statement.
Can the Gulf of Mexico’s name be changed by President Trump?
The Gulf of Mexico was first shown as the official name on maps used by 16th-century Spanish explorers, prior to the founding of the United States.
“The international maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico shall begin at the center of the mouth of the Rio Grande, wherever it may be located; from there it shall run in a straight line to a fixed point,” the U.S. State Department clarifies in a 1972 Maritime Boundary document.
The U.S. holds maritime jurisdiction over its part of the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico has jurisdiction over its portion.
Trump could potentially change the gulf’s name at the federal level as the rules for official geographical name changes are non-existent.
“Today, there is no formal international agreement or protocol in place for naming maritime areas,” the director of the International Hydrographic Organization John Nyberg told The New York Times.
However, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names states on its website that it only considers name changes for “compelling” reasons. “Generally,” it adds, “the most important policy regarding names is local use and acceptance.”
Challenges noted by the executives surveyed include challenges noted in the survey include security concerns (45%), talent attraction and talent retention (37%), a slowdown in domestic consumption (35%) and the peso exchange rate (34%). (Unsplash)
Although the Mexican business sector remains optimistic about prospects for 2025, political and economic challenges muddy the overall panorama, according to a survey conducted by consulting firm KPMG.
According to the survey, 80% of nearly 700 executives believe sales will climb this year, but only 59% expect to make new investments in 2025. This is down 11 points from last year when 70% of those surveyed said they planned to make new investments in 2024, according to the newspaper Milenio.
Only 59% of the nearly 700 Mexican business executives surveyed by KPMG expect to make new investments in 2025. This is down 11 points from last year. (Unsplash)
The survey — Perspectives of Top Executives in Mexico 2025 — found that executives are wary of disruptive political events (particularly the changes in government in both Mexico and the United States) as well as potential trade and geopolitical conflicts.
Among the challenges: new U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican goods imported to the U.S. while also suggesting that he might lower corporate income taxes to 15%.
The first proposal could impact nearshoring growth for Mexico, while the second proposal is part of Trump’s stated strategy to make the U.S. a more attractive place for manufacturing investments.
“Mexico has a variety of positive factors,” said KPMG associate Ricardo Delfín, according to the newspaper El Economista. “There is a good balance between cost and quality, as well as a qualified labor force … and executives still believe [nearshoring] will positively affect their operations.”
Four out of five executives believe their company’s sales will improve in 2025 and 89% think companies will thrive during the next three years (2025-2027).
However, according to the survey, 56% expect the Mexican economy to stagnate in 2025, while 24% predict a recession.
The KPMG analysis of the survey highlighted existing and potential supply chains — particularly in connection to Mexico’s proximity to the United States — and the country’s numerous free trade treaties as factors influencing executives’ outlooks.
Nearshoring growth could remain sluggish this year after a slowdown in 2024, with 56% of executives surveyed by KPMG expecting the Mexican economy to stagnate in 2025. (BYD)
Concerning potential new investments in 2025, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) emphasized meeting current clients’ needs, while 34% ranked nearshoring opportunities as a priority. Other investment targets would be environmental considerations and addressing exchange rate fluctuations.
El Economista said the study indicates that nearshoring strategies this year will likely be focused on seeking value chain alliances, modifying products and services, increasing installed capacity and investing in new geographical areas.
Delfín said it is clear that executives will approach operational expansion cautiously primarily because a great deal of expansion has already taken place.
Other challenges noted in the survey include security concerns (45%), talent attraction and talent retention (37%), a slowdown in domestic consumption (35%) and the peso exchange rate (34%).
The raid, which involved 250 officials, including National Guard officers in anti-riot gear, sparked panic and confusion among the migrants.
Migrants Set Fire in Midnight Camp Raid in Northern Mexico | Mexico Camp Fire News | News18 | N18G
The camp, located in the municipality of Chihuahua, about 360 kilometers from the border city of Ciudad Juárez, housed about 150 migrants, mainly Venezuelan families en route to the United States.
The midnight operation was aimed at relocating them to Mexico’s southern border for return to their home countries, a migration official who was not authorized to speak to reporters told Reuters.
According to reports, agents began gathering outside the camp at 9 p.m. Friday and another group arrived at 11 p.m. Migrants were alerted about an impending operation, but opted to stay since things appeared peaceful at that time.
But as flames and red smoke engulfed the site, many migrants began to flee with their belongings and children.
Daniel Barrios, a Venezuelan traveling with a woman carrying a baby on her back and another child, questioned the authorities’ tactics.
“Tell me, is it logical to come with this whole police and military force, supposedly to do an inspection at a camp, when they could do it during the day?” he said.
Barrios cut off his comments as he saw officials in the distance, saying, “We have to move.”
The blaze, controlled within an hour, caused no injuries or fatalities, according to officials. The number of migrants detained during the raid remains unclear, and Mexico’s National Migration Institute did not immediately comment.
Before the raid, the Chihuahua encampment housed roughly 150 migrants, mostly Venezuelan families. (Sergio Martínez/X)
The operation occurred about 60 hours before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, amid his criticism of Mexico’s efforts to curb migration. Trump has vowed stricter border policies and has threatened tariffs on Mexican goods if enforcement does not improve.
In the hours after the raid, one man from Nicaragua was walking around train tracks with companions who had decided to return to Torreón, Coahuila, then try to cross the border in another city.
Describing the raid, he said people put mattresses down near the entrance and fled out the back of the camp through a factory and toward the hills.
“First we put the mattresses down, and when they tried to force their way in, they were set on fire and we ran away,” he explained.
Chihuahua Gov. María Eugenia Campos had stated prior to the operation that “Chihuahua will not be a shelter for migrants” — a statement roundly criticized by a Morena official afterward.
“These positions not only contradict the values of solidarity and empathy that should guide our actions as a society, but also reflect a limited vision in the face of a phenomenon that demands shared responsibility and inter-institutional cooperation,” Brighite Granados, president of Morena’s state executive committee in Chihuahua, said in a press release.
As Trump prepared to take the oath of office in the U.S., Sheinbaum extolled the strengths of Mexico and promised to protect Mexicans facing deportation in the U.S. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Monday morning press conference just hours before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
Unsurprisingly, Mexico’s relationship with the United States was a key focus of the president’s mañanera on Trump’s Inauguration Day.
Sheinbaum: Mexico’s relationship with the US ‘has to be’ — and will be — ‘between equals’
Early in her Q&A session with reporters, Sheinbaum declared that Mexico “has no reason to bow its head, or feel inferior” when dealing with the United States.
“We’re a magnificent country, a cultural power, and Mexicans are hardworking, honest people,” she said.
“We’re fraternal, caring, we have a lot to show off to the whole world. So the relationship with the United States has to be between equals,” she said.
Mexico “has no reason to bow its head” when dealing with the United States, Sheinbaum said at her morning press conference. (Presidencia)
“… My role is to be a representative of the magnificent people [of Mexico] so our relationship with the United States will be one of equals, and we will always defend the Mexicans who live in the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
The president has said on repeated occasions that she believes that Mexico will have a good relationship with the United States during Trump’s second term.
USMCA allows North America to compete with other regions of the world, president says
Later in the press conference, Sheinbaum reiterated her view that “only” with the USMCA free trade pact can North America “compete with other regions of the world” in an economic sense.
“In other words, the United States can’t [compete] on its own, it needs Canada and Mexico,” she said.
The 2026 review of the USMCA free trade agreement, signed in 2018, will only be a ‘minor’ revision, Sheinbaum said. (Ron Przysucha/U.S. Department of State)
“In 2026 a revision [of the USMCA] is coming, which is a minor revision,” the president said Monday.
“And we believe that this revision will be carried out in agreement with the governments of the United States and Canada, because the accord has been beneficial for the three countries,” Sheinbaum said.
No Mexicans among those killed in LA fires, foreign minister says
Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente told the president’s press conference that no Mexicans were among 27 people killed in the devastating Los Angeles fires.
On Sunday, however, 125 Mexicans received assistance at one of the various emergency shelters that have been set up in L.A., he said.
“And we’re working on the census about those who lost jobs. This will take us little bit more time,” de la Fuente said.
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire on the north side of Los Angeles, in a photo from early January. (CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
Loss of employment “is probably where there will be more pain for our compatriots,” he said.
“And there is already an emerging program … to begin to provide them with support and get them work,” the foreign minister said.
"México te abraza," or "Mexico embraces you" includes welfare support for deportees, registration with the Mexican Social Security Institute and transport so that returning migrants "can reach their places of origin," Sheinbaum said. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Just hours ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States, the Mexican government revealed details of its plan to receive Mexican immigrants deported from the U.S. by the Trump administration.
President Claudia Sheinbaum told her Monday morning press conference that the government has prepared a “comprehensive program” for Mexicans deported during what Trump has pledged will be “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
“Mexico will do everything it can to defend and attend to [our] compatriots. It will allocate what is needed to receive those who are repatriated in order to achieve their reincorporation to their native country,” Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said during Sheinbaum’s Monday press conference. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)The program — part of a strategy called “México te abraza,” or “Mexico embraces you” — includes welfare support for deportees, registration with the Mexican Social Security Institute and transport so that returning migrants “can reach their places of origin,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that deportees will receive immediate financial support from the government to cover the initial costs they face after returning to Mexico. That support will come in the form of a “compatriot welfare card,” a kind of bank card loaded with 2,000 pesos (about US $100).
Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said that deportees will also have access to public health care services in Mexico.
“We don’t agree [with Trump’s deportation plan], but in case it happens, [deportees] will be received with access to the Mexican government welfare programs, access to health services for them and their family, transport to their places of origin and telephone communication,” she said.
“Mexico will do everything it can to defend and attend to [our] compatriots. It will allocate what is needed to receive those who are repatriated in order to achieve their reincorporation to their native country,” Rodríguez said.
The federal government is also prepared to provide consular support and legal advice to Mexicans at risk of deportation from the United States. It has sought to strengthen Mexico’s consular network in the United States in recent months.
Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente presents a map of the Mexican consular network in the United States as well as the number of U.S.-based attorneys and other legal support staff for future deportation cases. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
“You are not alone and you won’t be alone,” Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente assured Mexicans in the United States.
Rodríguez said that the “México te abraza” initiative is “a plan that was instructed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and in which the entire government participates.”
It includes “protocols to receive returnees at the border ports of entry and at airports,” she said.
The interior minister explained that authorities will assist deportees in obtaining the Mexican identification documents they need to access social security services in Mexico. Returning Mexicans will have opportunities to work in government employment programs such as the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme and the Sowing Life reforestation initiative, Rodríguez said.
Sheinbaum reiterated last week that Mexico was ready to receive large numbers of Mexicans if the Trump administration follows through on its mass deportation plan. However, until Monday, the government had not specified how it would help deportees.
The president and other government officials have argued that the deportation of large numbers of Mexicans from the United States will have a significant and negative impact on the U.S. economy given that they work in a range of important sectors. There are estimated to be around 5 million undocumented Mexicans living in the United States.
Sheinbaum confident that Mexico will reach ‘agreement’ with Trump administration on various issues
Sheinbaum told reporters that her government has had some “informal” discussions with incoming Trump administration officials, but stressed that formal communication will commence after Monday’s inauguration of the 47th president of the United States.
It is not clear how soon formal communication between President Sheinbaum and Donald Trump will commence after Monday’s presidential inauguration. (@CNBCTV18News/X)
Once Trump has taken office, “we’ll enter into communication [with the new U.S. government] and we know there will be agreement on different issues — that’s our objective,” she said.
One major concern for Mexico is Trump’s pledge to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican exports to the United States. Trump said in late November that he would impose the tariff on day one of his second term as president.
But Reuters, citing an incoming Trump administration official, reported that Trump would “issue a broad trade memo on Monday that stops short of imposing new tariffs on his first day in office but directs federal agencies to evaluate U.S. trade relationships with China, Canada and Mexico.”
Sheinbaum said last week that her government would combat the tariff threat through dialogue with the new U.S. government.
At her morning press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum also expressed her support for CBP One, the United States government app that migrants use to arrange appointments with U.S. immigration authorities.
“We don’t just suggest the continuation of this application, but the possibility of similar schemes [being available] from Central America, the south of Mexico or [prospective migrants’] countries of origin,” Sheinbaum said.
Trump is expected to issue around 10 executive actions on his first day in office, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico to stop illegal migration. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Just hours before Donald Trump was to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, a migrant caravan departed the southern Mexican border town of Tapachula, Chiapas, with the intention of reaching the United States.
Roughly 1,500 migrants departed Tapachula before dawn and trekked about 26 kilometers to the municipality of Huehuetan where they planned on resting for the day.
A migrant mother and child walking north from Tapachula, Chiapas, in the early hours of the day on Monday. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Members of the caravan — the fourth such group to head north from the Guatemala border during the first three weeks of the year — told the newspaper Excelsior that they would resume their march north on Monday night.
By the time they resume their journey, Trump will likely have declared a national emergency at the U.S. southern border as part of the sweeping crackdown on immigration that he has promised to pursue.
Trump is expected to issue around 10 executive actions on his first day in office to start reshaping U.S. immigration and border policy, CBS News reported, including sending U.S. military troops to the southern border with Mexico.
The groundbreaking CBP One mobile app that allowed noncitizens to schedule appointments with U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reportedly been discontinued by the incoming administration.
The Trump administration has shut down the CBP One phone app for migrants. The Biden-era process allowed nearly 1 million migrants to enter the U.S. at legal border crossings.
Several migrants told the newspaper El Diario del Sur that nothing would deter them from trying to cross into the United States.
“We are not afraid of Donald Trump’s threats … because God is with us,” said Luis, a migrant from Honduras.
Another migrant, Jesús from Venezuela, said they are determined to overcome all obstacles.
“Regardless of Trump’s warnings, migrants don’t want to be stuck in Tapachula,” he told the newspaper El Diario del Sur. “We’ve asked [Mexico’s] National Migration Institute (INM) for the necessary documents to allow us to travel north where we’ll try to cross into the United States.”
A new migrant policy referred to as “dispersion and exhaustion” has seen Mexican immigration authorities offer exhausted migrants who have been walking for several weeks bus tickets to cities farther north. However, they are then dispersed at various cities not located along the traditional migrant route where they are often unable to get proper documents to continue their travels to the U.S. border.
Minimalism, Mexican-style. Meet Mola, the team blending the traditional with the modern. (Mola)
There was a time when Mexico’s most iconic architects — Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Ricardo Legorreta, and Ernesto Gómez Gallardo — were as known for their furniture designs as for their buildings. This overlap wasn’t accidental. The interplay between architectural spaces and the furniture within them creates an intimate connection that fosters thoughtful use of both.
Mola aims to “transcend time” with their familiar, yet modern, interpretations of Mexican culture. (Mola)
Each piece from Mola Mx carries a distinctive personality, with many named after real people. “This great dream was born from the memories and experiences of architect José Miguel Márquez,” the company’s description reflects, underscoring the deeply personal nature of their creations.
When retro aesthetics meet minimalist Mexican design
By the late 1960s, optical art had surged in popularity, leaving an indelible mark on Mexican aesthetics. Nowhere was this more evident than in the bold graphics and signage of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Designed by Mexican architect Eduardo Terrazas and North American Lance Wyman, the visuals drew heavily from optical art and the intricate beadwork of the Wixárikas, an indigenous group renowned for their vibrant craftsmanship.
Today, Mola Mx channels this era, incorporating patterns of parallel and concentric lines reminiscent of that period. Yet, they offer a fresh, contemporary interpretation.
Mola’s “María” closet. (Mola)
“It is the author’s design that transcends time,” the company asserts. Their creations blend rustic elements with minimalist elegance, often drawing comparisons to Japanese design for their simplicity and refinement.
Take the Marla credenza, inspired by the marimba, a traditional instrument from Chiapas. The María credenza, with its electric hues, celebrates Mexico’s lively spirit. Petra pays homage to the country’s use of palm, while the Isabel credenza captures the aesthetic essence of 1960s Mexico.
Paying tribute to Mexican heritage
Mola Mx extends its tribute to Mexican culture through special editions like the Raíces collection, inspired by talavera pottery, a craft recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Another standout is Encarnación, introduced at Design Week Mexico, which evokes the image of a revolutionary Mexican woman. “Encarnación aims to leave a lasting message,” the company says, inviting users to make the piece part of their personal narratives.
Each of Mola Mx’s pieces are handmade, adding a special quality to their pieces. (Mola)
In a nod to inclusivity, designer Alex Sordia reimagined some of Mola Mx’s iconic models in a series inspired by the LGBTTTIQ+ movement, adding another layer of cultural resonance to their work.
Design as a personal statement
Mola Mx operates outside the confines of mass production. Each piece is crafted on demand, a process that can take two to three months, depending on the design. This bespoke approach ensures that every item undergoes a near-artisanal process.
Customization is another hallmark of their offerings. Clients can tailor their pieces by selecting wood types, finishes, and interior configurations, with additional fees for these bespoke options. “More than just static objects, we aim to convey a personality and a history that will be passed down from generation to generation,” the founders explain.
Mola Mx succeeds in this endeavor. Their designs, though timeless, feel ever-renewing, ready to be regarded as avant-garde in any era.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Start your day with a slice of decadence, as our blueberry, ricotta, and lime cake recipe takes you to the heart of Mexico with every bite. (Canva)
There’s something special about doing things different and nothing shows that better than this Mexican blueberry ricotta lime cake. Mexico is known for its vast array of diverse and unique fruits, but of all of them, perhaps it is the lime that tops them all. In fact, it’s difficult to find “lemon” (as we know it) when asking for a cocktail in a Mexican restaurant. You might ask for lemon, but chances are you’ll get lime.
The predominance of lime in Mexico is due primarily to one factor. It produces one-third of the world’s lime output, reaching 2.6 million metric tons annually and since the 1950s, has been recognized as the world’s largest exporter of the fruit. Like so many other fruits and vegetables introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards, limes arrived here about 1520, when their explorers brought the seeds here from Asia and the rest is history.
If Mexico had a flavor, there’s a good chance it would be lime. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)
Like chiles, limes are considered a staple of Mexican cuisine and life. The Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), known as Mexican lime, and the Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) are the two varieties grown here. It’s the Key lime, however, that you’ll find in traditional cervices and margaritas because of its unique flavor.
So, let’s talk about substituting lime for lemon in our baking recipes because after all we live in Mexico, and it sounds like the appropriate thing to do. In our recipe today, I am subbing lime for lemon in the cake’s batter as well as in the glaze. Believe it or not, lime rind and juice will provide a zesty, slightly sweeter flavor than lemon because lemon is more acidic. It will also make the blueberries taste sweeter and the ricotta creamier. Lime also imparts an aromatic component, perfect when pairing with blueberries. (If you’re going to try this in your baking recipes, substitute lime for lemon 1:1, both rind and juice.) So, let’s bring dessert to breakfast with this tantalizing fresh blueberry, ricotta, and lime cake!
Mexican Blueberry, Ricotta and Lime Cake
Recipe adapted from spatuladesserts.com (Canva)
¾ Cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature (mantequilla sin sal)
Best Mexican brands: Lala; Gloria; Alpura; Aguascalientes; Flor de Alfalfa.
Mexican brands noted for intense flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla
zest of 2 limes (limas)
3 Tbs. fresh lime juice (jugo de lima)
1 Cup (250 g) ricotta cheese (ricota)
1 ½ Cups (187 g) all-purpose flour
Use only American flour, available online.
1½ tsp. baking powder (polvo de hornear)
½ tsp. baking soda (bicarbonato)
½ teaspoon salt (sal)
2 ½ Cups (375 g) fresh blueberries (arándanos) (or fresh blackberries [moras] or raspberries [frambuesas])
Lime Glaze:
1 Cup (120 g) powdered sugar (azúcar glas)
2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice (jugo de lima)
Instructions:
Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 175°C/347°F
Grease a 9 inch/23 cm springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Make the Cake:
Zest 2 lemons and with your fingers and massage the zest into the granulated sugar,
creating lemon sugar.
Cream butter with lemon sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in the eggs, one by one, then vanilla extract, lemon juice and the ricotta cheese.
Next:
Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together.
Next:
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined.
Fold in half of the blueberries
Next:
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.
Place the remaining blueberries evenly on the top.
Bake the cake for 55-60 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool the cake completely.
Make the Lime Glaze:
Stir together the powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lime juice. Add more juice if
necessary to achieve the desired consistency.
Next:
Drizzle the glaze over the cake and decorate with fresh blueberries.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
Disfruta!
Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).
Mexico City's dry season is havoc for the skin. Here's how to cope. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
The contrast hit me like a wall of air the moment I stepped off the plane. After having spent a semester teaching in New York City’s humid environment, returning to Mexico City in December felt like entering a different atmospheric realm. Over the span of 3 months, the city I had left during the rainy season had transformed into a dry climate that quickly (and visibly) began taking its toll on my body.
The perfect conditions for dryness
Altitude and pollution factors in the capital create the perfect conditions for very dry weather from November to April. (Ricky Esquivel/Pexels)
Mexico City’s dry season, spanning from November to April, is shaped by a complex interplay of natural and historical, human-caused factors. The city’s location on a high plateau surrounded by mountains creates a unique microclimate where atmospheric circulation patterns and a rain shadow effect naturally limit precipitation. The rain shadow effect occurs when a mountain range (in this case the Sierra de Guadalupe mountains) blocks rain-producing weather systems, creating a dry area on the leeward side of the mountain.
This natural tendency toward dryness has been intensified by humans since colonial times, when Spanish settlers made the questionable decision of draining the ancient lakes upon which Mexico City was built. When the Spanish arrived, they took one look at the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, a sophisticated Venice-like city built on interconnected lakes, and thought: “Let’s get rid of this H2O.” Five centuries later, that choice has come back to haunt the city’s 22 million inhabitants. Urban development and regional deforestation have further disrupted the natural water cycle, creating increasingly arid conditions.
At an elevation of 7,350 feet, Mexico City’s high-altitude environment magnifies these dry conditions in ways that profoundly affect daily life. The thin air at this elevation holds significantly less moisture than at sea level, and when combined with the seasonal lack of rainfall, creates particularly harsh conditions between March and May. During these peak dry months, the city’s residents and visitors alike face a challenging environment where the air literally pulls moisture from their bodies, making it increasingly important to adapt and develop strategies for maintaining proper hydration.
Arid effects
Make sure to keep a steady water intake as humidity in the city drops. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Within my first week back, the effects were impossible to ignore. Despite regular water intake, my skin began showing signs of dehydration. Small flakes became visible on my forehead between my brow, and — even though I was using copious amounts of chapstick — my lips were incessantly cracked and dry. Even my hair, freshly cut just a week before my return, couldn’t escape the effects. The ends quickly became dry and brittle, losing their natural shine and flexibility. The most uncomfortable symptom — and excuse the graphic detail — was the hardening of mucus in my nasal passages, and sometimes nosebleeds from the dryness.
Many residents and visitors also experience a risk of respiratory symptoms and increased sickness due to the dry weather. “Low humidity during Mexico City’s dry season can dry out the nasal and throat lining, impairing their ability to trap bacteria and increasing the risk of virus transmission.” explains OxygenAdvantage Respiratory Coach Manuel Angel Hakim. “This dry air also causes airway constriction, worsening asthma and allergies.”
A moisture mission
There are a few strategies that visitors and residents alike can use to mitigate the symptoms and protect health:
Master your hydration
Hydration is crucial, but it’s not just about drinking loads of water. Electrolytes are the secret to providing essential minerals that help your body retain and internally distribute water effectively. Without them, water ingested often passes through the body too quickly to properly hydrate. In dry, high-altitude environments like Mexico City, individuals lose both water and electrolytes through breathing and sweating, so replacing both helps maintain proper hydration better than water alone. While Americans might reach for Gatorade, Mexicans typically imbibe Electrolit — an electrolyte-enhanced drink. I personally prefer more natural alternatives like coconut water, which avoids artificial ingredients and added sugars.
Sometimes water alone isn’t enough, so don’t forget your electrolites! (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Practice the art of nasal breathing
Switch from mouth to nose breathing — it’s not just about avoiding dry mouth. Your nose is literally designed to humidify air before it hits your lungs. Practice conscious nasal breathing throughout the day, especially during exercise or when outdoors. Think of your nose as nature’s built-in humidifier. Coach Hakim recommended practicing nasal breathing at all times, and integrating light breathing with a slow cadence as a morning practice. “What this looks like is sitting down and inhaling for 4 seconds and exhaling for 6 seconds, always through your nose, for a total of 5 minutes,” he explained. “This exercise will help you relax, keep warm and strengthen your immune system.”
Embrace the power of steam
A quick trick I like to use is to turn my shower into a sauna (or mini-spa, if you will). Close all bathroom doors and windows while taking a hot shower, creating your own personal steam room. Spend an extra five minutes breathing in the steam through your nose — it’s like a free respiratory therapy session that helps maintain moisture in the nasal passages and prevent sickness.
Bonus: While still in your steamy environment, moisturize your skin and add a hair mask to get optimal absorption. Applying moisturizer while your skin is still damp from showering also locks in hydration.
Our respiratory system functions best at 40-60% humidity, but during Mexico City’s cold months, indoor humidity often drops below this range. Invest in a good humidifier for your bedroom and maintain humidity levels around 50%. Place it near your bed while you sleep, when your body naturally dehydrates. For maximum benefit, close your bedroom door to keep the moisture in. Consider getting a smaller one for your work space too if you spend long hours at a desk.
Make saline your new buddy
Keep saline nasal spray or rinses handy. These can be found at most pharmacies in the city. A quick spritz every few days helps prevent the dreaded nosebleeds and crusty buildup. For a deeper clean, use a neti pot with saline solution. If you’ve never used one before, you’re in for a weird-feeling – but oddly satisfying– treat. Just make sure to use purified water and follow the instructions carefully.
Hydration through preparation
In a city built on drained lakes, we here in CDMX are ironically trying to add moisture back into our lives. With knowledge and the right tools, you can learn to navigate the city’s arid months with grace. The best defense against dryness isn’t just hydration — it’s preparation.
Let us know what your strategies are in the comments below!
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.
