Tortillas

A Cultural History

Nonfiction, History, Americas, Mexico, Food & Drink, Food Writing
Cover of the book Tortillas by Paula E. Morton, University of New Mexico Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Paula E. Morton ISBN: 9780826352156
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press Publication: October 15, 2014
Imprint: University of New Mexico Press Language: English
Author: Paula E. Morton
ISBN: 9780826352156
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Publication: October 15, 2014
Imprint: University of New Mexico Press
Language: English

“The ordinary tortilla was an extraordinary bond between the human and divine. . . . From birthdays to religious ceremonies, the people of Mesoamerica commemorated important events with tortillas. One Maya tribe even buried their dead with tortillas so that the dogs eaten as dinner during life would not bite the deceased in revenge.”—from Tortillas: A Cultural History

For centuries tortillas have remained a staple of the Mexican diet, but the rich significance of this unleavened flatbread stretches far beyond food. Today the tortilla crosses cultures and borders as part of an international network of people, customs, and culinary traditions.

In this entertaining and informative account Paula E. Morton surveys the history of the tortilla from its roots in ancient Mesoamerica to the cross-cultural global tortilla. Morton tells the story of tortillas and the people who make and eat them—from the Mexican woman rolling the mano over the metate to grind corn, to the enormous wheat tortillas made in northern Mexico, to twenty-first-century elaborations like the stuffed burrito. This study—the first to extensively present the tortilla’s history, symbolism, and impact—shows how the tortilla has changed our understanding of home cooking, industrialized food, healthy cuisine, and the people who live across borders.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

“The ordinary tortilla was an extraordinary bond between the human and divine. . . . From birthdays to religious ceremonies, the people of Mesoamerica commemorated important events with tortillas. One Maya tribe even buried their dead with tortillas so that the dogs eaten as dinner during life would not bite the deceased in revenge.”—from Tortillas: A Cultural History

For centuries tortillas have remained a staple of the Mexican diet, but the rich significance of this unleavened flatbread stretches far beyond food. Today the tortilla crosses cultures and borders as part of an international network of people, customs, and culinary traditions.

In this entertaining and informative account Paula E. Morton surveys the history of the tortilla from its roots in ancient Mesoamerica to the cross-cultural global tortilla. Morton tells the story of tortillas and the people who make and eat them—from the Mexican woman rolling the mano over the metate to grind corn, to the enormous wheat tortillas made in northern Mexico, to twenty-first-century elaborations like the stuffed burrito. This study—the first to extensively present the tortilla’s history, symbolism, and impact—shows how the tortilla has changed our understanding of home cooking, industrialized food, healthy cuisine, and the people who live across borders.

More books from University of New Mexico Press

Cover of the book Going Native by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Curandero by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Amazing Paper Airplanes by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Sunlight and Shadow by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Broken Glass by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Masculinity and Sexuality in Modern Mexico by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Desert Lawmen: The High Sheriffs of New Mexico and Arizona Territories, 1846-1912 by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Women Drug Traffickers by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book La Clínica: A Doctor's Journey Across Borders by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Inventing the Fiesta City by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book A Mad, Crazy River: Running the Grand Canyon in 1927 by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Coachella by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book América invertida by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book New Mexico's Reptiles and Amphibians by Paula E. Morton
Cover of the book Edmund G. Ross by Paula E. Morton
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy