While searching around on the web for some cooking classes in Mexico City we found a guided market and chilli tasting tour on Airbnb experiences. Of course when you are in Mexico you should go on a chilli tasting experience – right?

We met Fernando our guide with six other people at the Market de Jamaica. This was one of the oldest, largest and traditional markets in Mexico City. The market  had everything from fruit, meat, produce, flowers, nick nacks, clothing,…. pretty much everything you need! The market was a bit of a sensory overload with so much to see, smell, hear and taste.

After tasting a few things at the market we all made our way to Fernando’s families store – La Flor de Jamaica. Fernando has converted a room at the back of the shop into his workshop.  We learnt about all the different types of chilli in Mexico and how some were becoming extinct because  the Mexican people were not using the chillis (they do not know about them). No demand in the unique chillis, means no supply,  hence no one was growing them and they were getting lost. Fernando is trying to educate Mexican people about all the different chilli’s to reverse this trend. He is really passionate about this Mexican traditional, and his keen to share his knowledge in the hope that more people will try the different varieties of chillis.

We got to smell, feel and taste many different types of chilli and could then choose 2-3 of our favourites to make our own salsa with. We went to the workshop with our chosen chilli and selected a table to work on. At the table was a molcajete (mortar and pestle) and some other food ingredients. Fernando talked us through how to each make our own salsa, and we then proceeded to design our own salsa using our chosen chillis. Next we tasted all the different salsas we had made, some were mild, some were hot, and when Fernando is coughing, sweating and going “holy smoke thats hot” you know its next level spicy hot!!!.

Fernando teaching us about the varieties of chillis

Glen making his salsa

Our group

We finished the day with some carnitas (hot pork tacos) at one of the best places in Mexico city, yummmm.

We had such a good time and got on so well with the other people on the tour that we all met later for a few drinks and a meal later in the evening.

If you have a day in Mexico city to experience this tour we highly recommend it.