How Tejocote Fruit Became Puebla's Star Attraction
The tejocote, a vibrant Mexican fruit, is a culinary and cultural treasure. It's used in various dishes, from sweet treats to savory sauces. Beyond its deliciousness, the tejocote offers numerous health benefits.
Let’s talk about tejocote - Mexican hawthorn. Yes, tejocote—pronounced “teh-ho-COH-teh.” It’s a fruit that you’ve likely never heard of, unless you’re the sort who vacations in Mexico, wanders into a market, and tries every exotic item on offer. But stick with me, because this unassuming little fruit, which looks like an underwhelming cross between an apple and an afterthought, is actually the lifeblood of an entire Mexican industry. And, dare I say it, the world could learn a thing or two from it.
This isn’t just a fruit. It’s the Beyoncé of Mexican produce—small, mighty, and universally adored. Its stage? The state of Puebla, which produces a staggering 95% of all the tejocote in Mexico. According to the Agricultural and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), Puebla's 841 hectares of tejocote orchards generate over 16.6 billion pesos in economic value, roughly equivalent to 1 billion US Dollars. Think about that for a moment: a fruit smaller than a golf ball, cultivated in just a sliver of Mexico, is responsible for a chunk of the rural economy so large it could probably fund a Formula One team.
