15 Things Mexicans Do with Food That Might Surprise You

1. Eating Fruit with Chili, Lime, and Salt Like It’s a Personality Trait

Other countries eat fruit like, well, fruit. But here? We treat mango, pineapple, and watermelon like a science experiment. You grab some lime, a mountain of chili powder, and a bit of salt—and suddenly, it’s a whole new dish. If your mouth isn’t on fire, you did it wrong.

2. Micheladas: Beer, but Make It Spicy

Regular beer is fine, but why settle when you can mix it with lime, Worcestershire sauce, Clamato (tomato juice), and hot sauce? Add some Tajín on the rim and boom—you have a Michelada. It’s like a Bloody Mary but made for people who don’t believe in mild flavors.

3. Mangonadas: The Sweet Treat That Attacks Your Taste Buds

A mangonada is a mango smoothie that fights back. It’s loaded with chamoy (a sour-spicy sauce), lime, Tajín, and comes with a tamarind candy straw. Sweet, sour, salty, spicy—it’s like a rollercoaster for your mouth.

4. Elotes and Esquites: Because Corn Deserves More Respect

Boiled or grilled corn is cool, but we take it to another level—slathering it with mayo, cheese, lime, and chili powder. If you prefer it in a cup, we call it esquites. Either way, it’s messy, delicious, and 100% worth ruining your shirt for.

5. Tostilocos & Dorilocos: When Chips Become a Full Meal

Imagine opening a bag of Tostitos, dumping in cueritos (pickled pork skin), chamoy, lime, Japanese peanuts, salsa, and even gummy candy. Sounds like a dare, right? Nope, it’s just Tostilocos—the ultimate street snack. If your bag isn’t overflowing with chaos, you’re doing it wrong.

6. Mixing Soda with Coffee Because Why Not?

Some people drink espresso for an energy boost. Mexicans? We mix coffee with Coca-Cola because we fear nothing. This combo will either make you a productivity machine or have you vibrating into another dimension.

7. Valentina Hot Sauce on Literally Everything

Pizza, popcorn, chips, ramen, fruit—if it’s edible, Valentina goes on it. If you don’t have at least one bottle in your kitchen, I don’t trust you.

8. Maruchan Ramen, But Make It a Michelin-Star Dish

Mexicans don’t just eat Maruchan straight out of the cup like amateurs. We add lime, hot sauce, cheese, mayo, and sometimes even shrimp. Instant ramen? More like instant greatness.

9. Cantaritos: The Drink That Deserves More Respect Than Margaritas

Sure, margaritas are nice, but cantaritos? They’re the real deal. Tequila mixed with fresh grapefruit, orange, and lime juice, topped with soda and served in a big clay cup. It’s refreshing and will 100% make you text your ex.

10. Avocado on Everything (Even When It Costs Extra)

Mexicans don’t ask if avocado costs extra—we already know it does. Tacos, tortas, soups, toast, smoothies—avocado is life. And yes, we’ll fight you if you say guacamole isn’t worth the hype.

11. Pulque: The Drink of the Gods (and the Brave)

Pulque is a thick, foamy, fermented agave drink that’s been around since the Aztecs. It tastes… well, unique. Let’s just say, if you drink too much, you might start seeing ancient gods.

12. Eating Lechera Straight from the Can (No Regrets, No Shame)

Why drizzle sweetened condensed milk on desserts when you can eat it directly from the can? We all pretend it’s just a “little taste,” but let’s be real—we’re finishing the whole thing.

13. Beer with Clamato, Because We Like Our Drinks to Be a Full Meal

Some people drink beer. Mexicans drink beer mixed with tomato juice, lime, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Why? Because plain beer is too boring, and we believe in making life more exciting.

14. Spicy Candy Addiction (No Such Thing as Too Much Chili)

Mexican candy is not for the weak. If you think candy should just be sweet, you’re in for a surprise. Everything is covered in chili, tamarind, or chamoy, and the spicier, the better. We’ve been training for this since childhood.

15. Chilaquiles: Because Breakfast Shouldn’t Be Boring

Forget cereal—chilaquiles are the only correct way to start your day. Fried tortilla chips drowned in green or red salsa, topped with cheese, crema, and eggs or chicken. If your breakfast isn’t at least a little spicy, what are you even doing?

BONUS: Mexicans Will Put Lime on Literally Anything

Water, tacos, soup, chips, fruit, beer, meat, seafood—we put lime on everything Mexican food traditions. Sometimes, we even put lime on more lime. It’s a way of life.

Final Thoughts

I grew up thinking all of this was normal. Now, I realize that not everyone puts chili on their watermelon or drinks beer mixed with tomato juice. If you haven’t tried these Mexican food traditions yet, what are you waiting for?

Which one shocked you the most? Let me know in the comments!