MAYAN CULINARY DELIGHTS

lima juice - citrus juice - pork dish - yucatecan food - exquisite restaurant - downtown cancun - dulce de papaya con queso - unique flavors - los almendros restaurant - sopa de lima

Yucatecan cooking is a delicious combination of European and Mayan flavors. It’s also considered one of the most interesting types of regional Mexican food because it is quite different from the ones within central Mexico, it offers unique flavors and amazing ways in which it’s prepared. Visitors to Yucatan (the state right next to Quintana Roo, home of Cancun) and the surrounding area leave with a lovely taste in their mouths combined with their memories of the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea.

Appetizers, Main Courses and Desserts

A few typical Yucatecan dishes are:

Sopa de lima: a chicken broth enriched with pieces of tortilla and lima juice, lima is a citrus unique to the Yucatan.

Cochinita Pibil: a slow roasted pork dish made by marinating the pork in citrus juice, seasoning it with annatto seed and roasting the meat underground wrapped in banana leaves.

Dulce de Papaya con Queso: papaya cooked in sugar and honey and served over edam.

Mayan Afrodisiac Drinks

Did you know that cocoa, or more specifically cacao, is an afrodisiac? The Mayans saw it as a restorative, mood-enhancing cure-all. They also used drinks like balche (Mayan Wine) and xtabentun (annis liqueur) among others to meditate and honor their gods and goddesses.

Where can one try these delicious creations?

The city of Mérida boasts countless authentic Yucatecan restaurants, from economical and simple to pricey and sophisticated. One great option is Los Almendros restaurant or head over to the popular Eladio’s cantina to order a cold Yucatecan beer that comes with samples of Yucatecan food.

In Cancun you can also find a great variety of Yucatecan food at different prices, from street vendors to elegant hotels. Labna restaurant, in Parque de las Palapas downtown Cancun, is an exquisite restaurant, dedicated to Yucatecan specialties and ideal for a romantic dinner.