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| Peppers drying in the sun on petates Photo credit La Güare |
The incredible scenery of slowly rising green hills, white herons taking off from the shallow “Laguna de Querendaro” (Querendaro Lagoon) are just two added bonuses to the small town of Querendaro that is traditionally known for its dried chile peppers. Once a year the “Feria del Chile” or Chile Fair, is held in late summer.
Recently, while passing through the town on the way to see the monarch butterflies in Macheros, Estado de Mexico, dried apples and pears could be seen in clear plastic bags were lined up next to chile peppers. This town is well worth the stop if you are interested in authentic Mexican, and in particular, Michoacano cuisine. As you pass through, you will see plenty of shops set up selling dried goods and the town´s famous “pan de nata” which is a heavy sweat bread that sticks in your stomach for some time. Driving to Querendaro from Michoacan´s state capital Morelia, go east on the Charo highway or consult this Google Map for more information.
Walk by the lagoon, stop by the shops and stock up on dried chile peppers. You can grind them up to make your own special mixes, or save the seeds to plant your own homegrown, organic pepper plants. You can even dry them out if you decide to grow your own using the Querendaro tried and true method: laying them out on petates to dry in the sun.
*A special thanks to Jesus Fuentes and Rosa María Farias for their help on researching this article.
Video of Querendaro´s Feria del Chile
