Mexican Ingredients Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cilantro

Cilantro is an herb native to from southwestern Asia to northern Africa. It grows to 10 inches tall. The leaves are described as parsley-like, thin and feathery with a biting, sometimes pungent taste.

Answer: avocado

The avocado is a tree and a fruit of the tree native to Central America and Mexico.

Interesting fact: The fruit was considered so sexually provocative that virginal women were not allowed outside during the harvest season in ancient Mexico!

Answer: chocolate

Chocolate originated in Mesoamerica, and was highly valued by both the Aztecs and Mayans. It was believed to be a food of the gods (not to mention an aphrodisiac), and was incorporated into several traditional ceremonies. It was consumed both as a food and a drink.

Answer: lime

Ceviche is popular throughout Latin America, and can be made from a wide variety of fish or shellfish. The lime, lemon, or other citrus juice contains citric acid, which "cooks" the proteins in the fish, yielding a fully prepared food. It is safe to eat, and quite delicious!

Answer: jalapeno

The jalapeņo is a small to medium-sized chile pepper that is one of the hotter peppers, creating a hot, burning sensation that it produces in the mouth when eaten. Ripe, the jalapeņo is either red or, more, commonly green.

Answer: corn

Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain that was domesticated in Mesoamerica and then spread throughout the American continents. It spread to the rest of the world after European contact with the Americas in the early 16th century. It is commonly used as masa, a dried and crushed version, to make tortillas, tamales, and totopos.

Answer: buffalo

Buffalos did not live in Mesoamerica to be hunted. All the others have been known to be included into dishes, though this is not a common practice.

Answer: garlic

Garlic originated in the western Asia region of the world, and was only incorporated into Mesoamerican cuisine after the Spanish conquistadors invaded in the 16th century.

Answer: all of these

There are a variety of cheeses in Mexico.
Queso oaxaca is a white, semi-hard cheese of Mexican origin, similar to un-aged Monterey jack.
Queso fresco is a creamy, soft, and mild unaged white cheese that originated in Mexico.
Queso anejo is a firm, aged Mexican cheese traditionally made from skimmed goat's milk but most often available made from skimmed cow's milk. After it is made it is rolled in paprika to add additional flavor to its salty sharp flavor.

Answer: False

Rice was introduced, again, by the Spanish Conquistadors after the 16th centuries. Since then it has taken on a fairly important role in the cuisine of the region.