Venturing into a supermarket in a foreign country offers a unique glimpse into its culture and culinary habits. Having spent considerable time both in the United States and Mexico, I’ve observed fascinating differences in their grocery shopping experiences. These distinctions go beyond recipes found in cookbooks or tourist brochures, revealing how each country truly approaches food.
This analysis compares supermarkets in South Austin (HEB and Randalls) with those in South Mexico City (Walmart and Mega – part of the Comercial Mexicana chain). These stores cater to similar demographics, ranging from upper-middle to lower-middle class clientele, and are comparable in size. While industry insiders are undoubtedly aware of these nuances, this exploration aims to shed light on the captivating world of Mexican groceries for a wider audience, particularly those familiar with the American supermarket landscape.
Let’s delve into a section-by-section comparison, using US supermarkets as a familiar point of reference.
Delving into Dairy & Beyond
In Mexican Grocery stores, the dairy section immediately stands out with a greater variety of yogurt, notably the abundance of drinkable yogurt options. It’s common to see shoppers stocking up on large quantities of these beverages, alongside gelatinas, often located in the dairy aisle. Furthermore, Mexican crema and cream generally surpass their US counterparts in quality and richness.
Beyond the refrigerated section, packaged goods aisles reveal even more dairy delights. Stacks of shelf-stable milk in tetrapaks dominate, offering various sizes and fat percentages. Nido, a powdered milk product by Nestlé, is prominently featured, including specialized formulas for different age groups and whole milk versions ideal for homemade yogurt. This highlights the importance of long-life milk in Mexican households, likely due to factors like storage and distribution infrastructure.
Packaged Goods: Rice, Beans, and More
Moving into other packaged goods, rice and beans take center stage. While the variety of rice may be slightly less than in US stores, the bean selection is richer and more diverse. Mexican grocery stores boast numerous bean varieties, many locally sourced, reflecting the staple status of beans in Mexican cuisine.
Herb teas are preferred over black tea, typically offered in single, unmixed flavors. Coffee consumption is evolving, with Nescafé still holding a dominant position, but higher quality coffee options are increasingly available.
Cookie aisles present a mix of familiar and local treats. Cheaper cookies, such as the Marinela line by Bimbo, featuring the iconic Gansitos chocolate-covered cakes, are abundant. Oreos provide a common ground between both countries. Galletas saladas (soda crackers) and habaneros crackers are also staples. Bimbo bread, a ubiquitous brand in Mexico, fills the bread shelves.
Canned vegetables are less prevalent compared to US stores, primarily consisting of mushrooms, corn, tomato puree, and mixed vegetables like carrots and green beans for rice. Mexican brands like Herdez, which also has a presence in the US market under Hormel, are dominant.
Bottled and tetrapak sauces are plentiful, showcasing a growing selection of Mexican red, green, and mole sauces. Essential condiments like hot sauces, Salsa Maggi, Salsa Inglesa (Worcestershire sauce), and mayonnaise are available in large quantities.
Packaged cake mixes, including Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines, are gaining popularity, gradually competing with national brands.
It’s worth noting the cooking oil and lard situation. Contrary to the stereotype of lard being the primary cooking fat in Mexican cuisine, the extensive rows of cooking oil bottles compared to limited lard packets in the meat section suggests a different reality in modern Mexican cooking.
Exotic food aisles in Mexican grocery stores typically feature Jewish, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine ingredients. Goya, a prominent brand in US Hispanic markets, has less presence in Mexico, indicating different ethnic food preferences.
Pet food sections are noticeably smaller with less variety compared to US supermarkets, reflecting potentially different pet ownership patterns or pet food preferences.
Meat & Deli: Cuts and Cravings
The meat section in Mexican grocery stores largely mirrors the US preference for boneless cuts. However, a key difference lies in the thickness of the cuts. Meat in Mexico is typically sliced thinly, catering to dishes like milanesa and the needs of street food vendors who purchase in bulk. Milanesa (thin, breaded slices of beef, pork, or chicken) is a strong contender for Mexico’s national dish, highlighting the popularity of thin, breaded meats.
Fish displays are prominent, especially during Lent, with fish piled high on ice. More adventurous options like tripe and pigs’ feet are also available, catering to traditional Mexican cuisine.
The deli section features pre-packaged sliced meats with a Spanish influence. Chorizo, a flavorful Spanish sausage, is readily available.
Stacks of pink wieners, including those from FUD (part of the major Monterrey meatpacking group Sigma Alimentos), are a striking feature. Wieners could also be considered a candidate for a national dish, given their widespread consumption. Bacon is also a common deli item.
Cheese selections lean heavily towards Mexican varieties such as fresco, cotija, crema, chihuahua, and quesillo. However, the selection of foreign cheeses is expanding, primarily featuring Spanish (Manchego), Dutch (Gouda), and French cheeses (Brie and Camembert, often produced domestically in Mexico). Items like grape leaves and hummus are also found, indicating a growing interest in Mediterranean-inspired foods.
Bakery & Tortilleria: Freshness and Tradition
In-store bakeries in Mexican grocery stores emulate traditional panaderías (bakeries). Customers use aluminum trays and tongs to select bolillos (savory rolls) and pan bazo from wooden bins and pan dulce (sweet bread) from wooden shelves. The sheer variety of pan dulce is impressive, with numerous variations on core themes. While some “artisanal” European breads and birthday cakes are present, the overall bakery quality is comparable to that of US supermarkets – decent but not exceptional.
The tortilleria is a unique and essential feature. Fresh corn tortillas are made in-store and sold in ½ and 1-kilo packages, consistently drawing the longest lines in the entire store. Sopes, tiritos, totopos, and other corn-based snacks are also available fresh from the tortilleria.
Snacks & Soft Drinks: Familiar Brands, Local Flavors
The snacks and soft drinks aisles show significant overlap with US offerings, unsurprising given that Sabritas, Mexico’s largest snack company, is part of PepsiCo. Bloated bags of potato chips and chicharron (pork rinds) are abundant. Dips are less varied than in US stores. Mexican soda brands like Jarritos add local flavor to the beverage selection.
Bottled water is prominently displayed, but designer water brands are less common. This reflects the ongoing concern about tap water quality in Mexico, making bottled water a necessity for many.
Fruits & Vegetables: Freshness and Tropical Abundance
The produce section is a highlight of Mexican grocery stores. While offering the staples found in US stores, the fruits and vegetables are generally fresher and more affordable. A wider array of melons and tropical fruits are available, reflecting Mexico’s climate and agricultural diversity. Unique items like romeritos, nopales (cactus pads), and huazontle (a leafy vegetable similar to spinach) offer a taste of authentic Mexican ingredients. A greater variety of fresh and dried chiles and ingredients for aguas frescas (fresh fruit drinks), such as tamarind pods, guavas, and dried jamaica (hibiscus) blossoms, further enrich the produce section.
Alcohol: Local Spirits and Imported Wines
Rum, brandy, and tequila are the dominant alcoholic beverages, with most rum and brandy brands being produced by large international corporations. Wine consumption is increasing, with Argentinian and Chilean wines being popular, affordable choices. However, beer remains the preferred everyday alcoholic beverage. Mexican beer brands and Heineken are prevalent, as Heineken owns FEMSA, one of Mexico’s two major beverage companies alongside Modelo.
Frozen Food & Ready-to-Eat: Emerging Trends
Frozen food sections are still smaller in Mexico, roughly a quarter of the size of those in American stores. Offerings primarily include hamburgers, french fries, some vegetables and fruits, baked desserts, and ice cream. This suggests a less ingrained culture of frozen food consumption compared to the US.
Ready-to-eat meals are gaining traction. Prepared rice, mole pastes, rotisserie chicken, and, in some stores, complete ready-to-go meals are available. Salad bars are also becoming more common, indicating a growing demand for convenient meal solutions.
General Observations: Integration and Localization
Overall, the integration of Mexican and US/international food corporations is evident in Mexican grocery stores. Simultaneously, these corporations demonstrate careful localization, adapting product offerings to local tastes, as seen in products like crema de chile poblano y crema de elote (poblano pepper cream and corn cream soup) instead of standard beef vegetable soup.
Despite criticisms leveled against supermarkets, both Mexican and US grocery stores offer a wealth of choices and, with discerning shopping, access to excellent products.
Perhaps the most striking overall difference lies in the sheer number of items available. US stores likely stock double the number of unique items within a similar square footage. This seems largely driven by the flavor and taste industry, where, for instance, the US offers a vast array of canned tomato variations with diverse flavoring agents, compared to a more limited selection in Mexico. The same applies to coffee, rice, and crackers, highlighting the US market’s emphasis on product differentiation through flavor variations.
Exploring Mexican grocery stores reveals a fascinating intersection of global and local food cultures, offering a unique insight into Mexican culinary preferences and consumption patterns. For anyone interested in food, culture, or simply the nuances of daily life in Mexico, a visit to a Mexican supermercado is an enlightening experience.
