Oaxaca: El Mercado de Etla

The market in the town of Etla was quite an experience. Etla is just outside the city of Oaxaca. the only market day is on Wednesday; so, as you may have guessed, we were there on Wednesday. We were led through the market by Susanna Trilling and one of her right hand cooks, Yolanda. There were 23 in our group; we split into 2 groups. I managed to get into Yolanda's group. She is a lifetime resident of Oaxaca and knows many of the people at the market.

The market is quite large. You could divide it into 2 parts: food for immediate consumption along with house/kitchen goods and the animals for slaughter or raising. We focused on the first category. We saw lots of cookware made of clay, like ollas and comals. What I did not know is that the raw clay goods are cured with a lime mixture; you do that part yourself. We visited a woman taking large pieces of limestone and breaking it into sall chunks and bagging it. This is the lime used to cure these clay goods; it's used in making tortillas, too. She likes to have photo taken if you promise to send her a print. I will do that. Her mother who is out of the picture to the right, believes that if you take her photo, her soul will go with you and the camera. She fears her soul will not find its way back to her, not a photo opportunity.

You can purchase anything needed for preparing a meal at the market. Here is a woman selling herbs and spices. She sells seeds, too. I bought some Epazote, Chepiche, and Chepil seeds. I'll be planting them if I get them through customs.

We sampled lots of local food and drink at the market. Saltamontes are a popular snack food. They are fried and salted grasshoppers (above). I had chocolate covered grasshoppers as a kid; these were actually better. We applied peer pressure to make all in our group sample them.

Yolanda allowed us to sample several types of bread. Some were better than others in my opinin, but nothing could have been fresher.

This woman was selling herbs and radishes. We checked out (smell and taste) several herbs key to Mexican cuisine.

We sampled some local beverages. This one was frothy on top and kind of milky on the bottom. I liked it; it was more refreshing than a soft drink. I think it is called tejate.

Yoland showed us the cactus leaf from which Nopales are cut. They are kind of like French cut string beans. If well prepared, it is excellent and good for reducing colesterol.

This is another drink that had a hint of chocolate in it, very refreshing.

There was lots more tasting at the market. Great tamales and enchiladas, too. The details will follow.

The parting image is one of Susanna Trilling just after avoidin impact with a 3 wheeled taxi.