Exploring the World of Spicy Mexican Candy: A Flavorful Adventure

Mexican spicy candy is one more demonstration of the enormous influence of the picantico flavor to all foods in Mexico.

Actually, we should say that some spicy mexican candy is not the spicy flavor that adds flavor, it only generates the essence of chili: to sting the mouth.

So, there will be sweets such as tamarinds, chamoy, chili powder with lime, spicy chewing gum, gummies, fried foods and sweet and sour sauces are part of the menu of treats that we enjoy young and old in Mexico.

This is very natural in Mexico, but the reaction in other countries is relative, depending on the taste for exotic flavors.

These mixed flavors, when taken to other countries, provoke looks of strangeness and even repulsion, even before tasting them.

Chili sweets are becoming so popular in the United States that Mexican food restaurant owners include them as dessert.

So, it should come as no surprise that they offer chili candies and in some of their restaurants they even sell them.

In Mexico, the chile candy menu does not have a fixed recipe.

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Spicy mexican Candy

More and more varieties of desserts with this ingredient are being added, such as ice cream, chocolate bars with chili, fruit jams with chipotle or habanero peppers and a long etcetera that can be consumed alone or as ingredients of more elaborate dishes.

Even something as universal as popcorn acquires another dimension when chile is added.

In fact, there are ice creams with spicy flavor, and in some places they are sold quite a lot.

In gastronomy, the contrast and balance of flavors is fundamental and there are people who, in the search for a good and different flavor, appreciate spicy mexican candy.

Many chefs and gastronomy specialists have realized that some totally opposite flavors work very well together and elevate a dish to another level.

In pastry this also applies, with a combination of sweet flavors with chili, which, for connoisseurs, is something you can’t miss.

Ingredients in spicy mexican candy

To achieve that essence of spicy flavor, Mexicans apply various options, and it will depend on the mixture they want to obtain.

Since childhood, Mexicans eat chili in every possible way: in chamoy, in powdered form covering candy lollipops, sprinkled on fruits with salt and lime or on snacks.

Also in tamarind paste and chewing gum that sticks to the molars with its sour and spicy flavor.

Perhaps in the United States, to get certain ingredients, you have to resort to the reduced market, especially in the east.

Among the most commonly used ingredients in Mexican spicy candy, the following stand out:

The Chamoy

This ingredient is very popular in Mexico, and generates a spicy flavor that is not particular.

Therefore, among the spicy mexican candy, chamoy occupies a special place in a special list.

Chamoy is a Mexican condiment made from dehydrated fruit, chili, salt, sugar and water, with a sweet to sour taste.

It is usually a powdered condiment, but it is also used in liquid form.

The name chamoy is derived from umeboshi, a traditional Japanese dish made from pickled Japanese apricots or Chinese plums that are usually dyed with red dyes.

Chamoy is prepared with fruits such as apricot or mango, but especially with apricot and can be eaten alone or as a sauce to accompany other dishes.

READ HERE: THE FASCINATING WORLD OF MEXICAN HATS

In Mexico there is a very popular commercial candy, Pelón Pelo Rico.

It is one of the most famous and characteristic commercial candies in Mexico and it has chamoy in it.

Throughout the country there is no place where you do not know the fun tamarind candy with its characteristic and unique packaging.

Chile powder

Also, a recurring ingredient in spicy Mexican candy recipes is chili powder.

Chili powder is obtained by grinding chili peppers that have been previously dehydrated.

There are therefore as many varieties of chili powder as there are chili varieties (and there are many).

It is made from small ground cayenne chiles.

One of the most popular spicy mexican candy in the pulparindo, a stick of natural tamarind dipped in a layer of salt and chili.

Most popular spicy Mexican candy

Among the most popular spicy Mexican candy, we could mention the following:

The pulparindo

It is a natural tamarind bar bathed in a layer of salt and chili, it was very popular in the 80’s. It is still marketed by De la Rosa in its original, spicy and mango flavor presentations.

It is still marketed by De la Rosa in its original, spicy and mango flavor presentations.

This candy is originally from Jalisco and the company that created it was founded in 1942 by Mr. Jesús Michel González and Mrs. Elvira Velasco Rolón, both from Jalisco, who started making handmade candies.

Miguelito powdered spicy mexican candy

It is a mixture of chili, salt and sugar for seasoning snacks, fruits, vegetables or snacks, you can even add it to refreshing drinks or desserts such as the famous chamoyadas or classic ice creams.

There are two brands of Mexican candies named Miguelito.

The symbol of both is an angel and the specialty of their products are those made with chili powder, chamoy, tamarind and many other varieties of candies.

Miguelito Chamoy was born at the beginning of 1970, but its origin dates back to the early sixties, when Mr. Felipe Zúñiga Chávez arrived in Mexico City, specifically to work at the Iwadare’s ranch, a family of Japanese origin.

Japan tried to enter the market with its seasoning and turn it into just another condiment, but Mexico adopted it more as a delicious sweet.

It is said that after many years, Mr. Iwadare shared his recipe with Felipe Zúñiga, who began to elaborate his chamoy, selling it to small stores.

Felipe’s second son was born at the same time as his company, so they decided to name him Miguel Angel, which is why cupid is the symbol of Miguelito Chamoy.

It is one of the companies dedicated to process spicy Mexican ingredients and sweets.

Vero Mango:

It is one of the most popular spicy mexican candy, its origin is due to the company Vero, which went through a long process before being called Vero.

The history of Dulces Vero, a company specializing in Mexican confectionery, dates back to its humble beginnings in 1952.

Back then, a modest candy workshop known as “Los Pinos” opened its doors in Guadalajara, Jalisco, marking the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey that endures to this day.

In the 1960’s it expanded and began to be called Teresa; it later changed its name to Dulces Vero.

They are responsible for several spicy Mexican candies, such as picafresa, and of course, the flagship brand: Vero Mango.

Essentially, Vero Mango is a mango-flavored popsicle with a layer of chili.

Other spicy mexican candy:

Pica Fresa: Strawberry-flavored gummies known for their sweet and spicy combination with a chewy texture and a chili powder coating.
Rebanaditas: Watermelon-flavored popsicles, usually in the form of watermelon slices, with a tangy and spicy flavor topped with chili powder.
Rockaleta: A popular Mexican popsicle that comes in various flavors and layers, often starts out sweet and gradually gets spicier as it reaches the center.
Bolitochas: Hard, round candies that come in multiple flavors such as watermelon, tamarind and mango. The center is filled with chili powder.

Traditional Spicy Sweets

Spicy Mexican candy reflect traditions and encompass a wide range of offerings, reflecting the diverse cultures, ingredients and flavors found in the different states and regions of Mexico.

In essence, a spicy Mexican sweet is to take advantage of the use of spice as ingredients in thousands of recipes.

In this way, the sense of originality is preserved, with modern proposals in each of the Mexican tables and families.

Today, renowned confectioners apply techniques to mix the spice in cakes, chocolate cakes, and any other proposal is a rich relationship with all the ingredients.