Mexican Essentials

The pantry side of a Mexican kitchen. This is where the chamoy, the masa, the vanilla and the candy toppings live, the things you reach for when you are making something rather than just opening a bag.

A short, practical shelf of Mexican pantry staples and chamoy seasonings, imported from Mexico and shipped nationwide. If you have been trying to figure out where to buy chamoy, masa harina or real Mexican vanilla without driving to a specialty store, this is the page.

Chamoy and candy toppings

Most of this collection is about dressing up other food. Clásico Chamoy Mega Juice is the pourable chamoy for fruit, drink rims, gummies and shaved ice. Miguelito Chamoy Candy Powder does the same job dry, in Original and Chamoy. Zumba Pica Forritos tamarind paste is the thick coating used for chamoy apples and covered fruit, and Pulparindo Rim Dip is the same idea in an 8 oz jar, in Original or Mango Tamarind.

Spreads

De La Rosa Mazapán Untable is the spreadable version of the mazapán candy. The mazapán spread, sometimes called mazapán peanut butter, goes on toast, on pan dulce, or straight off the spoon.

Baking and cooking

Maseca Instant Corn Masa Flour is the gluten free masa harina used for homemade tortillas, tamales, sopes, pupusas and empanadas. Molina Mexican Vanilla Blend is the original Mexican vanilla, used for baking, flan, ice cream, icing and coffee.

Drinks and seasonal

Nestlé Abuelita tablets are the Mexican chocolate for hot chocolate, already blended with sugar and cinnamon and melted into hot milk. Hojuelas de Papa are uncooked potato flakes you fry at home. Calaveritas de Azúcar, handmade sugar skulls, come out for Día de los Muertos.

Looking for the candy these toppings usually go on? See Mexican Candy. For chips and botanas, see Mexican Snacks.

Shipped worldwide, free on domestic orders over $50. Orders placed before 8:00 AM MST go out the same day. Local to El Paso? Come by the tiendita at 3465 Lee Blvd, Suite 251.

Frequently asked questions

What is chamoy and what do I put it on?

Chamoy is a sweet, sour, salty and mildly spicy Mexican sauce made from pickled fruit, chile, lime and salt. It goes on fresh fruit, mango and cucumber above all, on the rim of a drink, over gummy candy, and on shaved ice. The Mega Juice is the pourable chamoy sauce and polvo Miguelito is the powdered version.

What is the difference between chamoy and Tajín?

Tajín is a dry seasoning of chile, lime and salt. Chamoy is built on pickled fruit, so it is sweeter and more sour, and it usually comes as a sauce. Miguelito powder sits between the two, a chamoy flavored powder rather than a plain chile lime one.

What is Maseca used for?

Maseca is instant corn masa flour. Add water and you have masa for tortillas, tamales, sopes, pupusas or empanadas. It replaces nixtamalizing corn yourself, and it is gluten free.

What is Mazapán Untable?

Mazapán Untable is the spreadable version of De La Rosa mazapán. Same crumbly peanut candy flavor, in a jar, so it works as a Mexican peanut butter on toast, on pan dulce, or by the spoonful.

How is Mexican vanilla different from regular vanilla extract?

Mexican vanilla blends tend to read as rounder and slightly spiced rather than sharply alcoholic, which is why they get used so heavily in baking, flan, ice cream and coffee. Molina is the original and the one most people grew up with.

What is Abuelita and how do I make it?

Nestlé Abuelita is a tablet of Mexican chocolate already blended with sugar and cinnamon. You melt a tablet into hot milk and whisk it, traditionally with a molinillo. Nothing else to add.