Translated, it means, "The food tells the story." Of all the cuisines in the world, there may be no other that so perfectly represents the culture and history of its people as Mexican food. The spices, the color, the flavor--all are a magnificent reflection of the rich heritage and traditions of the Mexican people.

Lively and full of spice (though not always spicy), Mexican cooking has enjoyed a surge of interest in the past few years, becoming one of the most popular cuisines in the world. While some good recipes will be indispensable to those just learning to cook, in true Mexican cooking exact measurements are seldom used. More often, it's "a little of this" and "a touch of that," guided by experimentation, a sense of adventure, and familiarity with ingredients that are the foundation of authentic Mexican dishes.

If you enjoy the spicy flavor of Mexican, be sure to check out these recipes and tips for Simply Organic Southwest Seasonings.

» Try these colorful recipes
» The heat factor!

In Mexican culture, food is inseparable from celebrations. That's why September is an excellent time to start exploring Mexican cuisine, as the country celebrates El Mes de la Patria or "the month of our nation." (In synchronization with the Mexican festival, the United States celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 to October 15.) It's a virtual national party, much like our own Fourth of July, during which the Mexican people celebrate their independence from Spain. While the whole month is filled with festivities, September 15th (the eve of their Independence Day) is when the celebration really begins.

On September 16, 1810, a priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla of Dolores of Guanajuato, Mexico, rang the bell of his small church and cried out to his fellow Mexicans, "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!" to encourage them to fight for liberty against the Spanish government that ruled their country. The revolution to reclaim land that had been taken by the Spaniards, as well as the fight to end the exploitation of the Mexican people, was underway. It lasted for 10 years.

Since then, Mexicans have celebrated each year by decorating their homes and buildings with Mexican flags and flowers in the red, white and green national colors. In many of the country's villages and cities, an emotional re-enactment of the bell-tolling event that started it all, along with a resounding "Viva Mexico!" from the crowd, takes place. The celebrations also include fiestas, parades, dancers, musical performances, fireworks, and, of course, a wide variety of delicious traditional Mexican food.

If you're interested in Mexican cooking, the best place to start is to become familiar with the variety of herbs and spices that provide the distinct flavors and aromas so highly treasured in Mexican cuisine. The quality of your herbs and spices can absolutely make or break the end result of your efforts, so be sure to use top-quality Frontier herbs and spices for the best flavor, freshness and quality.

Annatto Seed: Known in Mexico as achoite , these annatto seeds impart a rich yellow color and mild, distinctive flavor to foods such as rice and sauces. To use, cover seeds with water and simmer for five minutes. Soak in water for an hour and cool before crushing with a mortar and pestle or blender.

Azafran: Otherwise known as Mexican saffron, azafran possesses a pleasantly bitter flavor, and most dishes require only a small amount. To use, dissolve first by crumbling a small amount in hot water. Frontier European Saffron is an excellent substitute in dishes that call for azafran.

Basil: This pungent herb is used either fresh or dried, most often in tomato dishes.

Cayenne: An orange-colored powder, cayenne is simply a variety of very hot, ground chili peppers. Use it sparingly to add extra hotness to dishes.

» More essential herbs & spices

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