I was watching last November 18's episode of the hit TV musical show Glee when one of the funnier scenes talked about the hottest chilis in the entire world and said that they were imported by some minor character all the way from Mexico. Of course Mexico is fairly famous for its spicy cuisine, but I did a little research and found out that the hottest pepper in the world is not in Mexico.It's actually harvested in northeastern India, specifically in the Assam region. Bhut Jolokia pepper, as it is called, was declared to be the world's hottest chili in 2007 by the Guinness World Records, replacing the Red Savina, which has held the title from 1994 until 2006.
Whether it originates from Mexico or not does not really matter. We already know that Mexicans are probably one of the world's largest consumers of chili, owing to their spicy cuisine. Despite this, Mexican cuisine can still be said to be somewhat varied. Main staples here (since chili cannot be a main staple) are typically corn and beans. Chipotle, a smoke-dried jalapeņo chili, is also fairly common, while garlic and onions are among the favorite ingredients.
The diversity of Mexican cuisine can be largely attributed to its Spanish heritage and the geographical condition, climate conditions, and ethnic differences in each of Mexico's six primary region.
For example, the Yucatan region is fairly popular for giving importance to natural sweetness in food, instead of spiciness. Meanwhile, the Oaxacan region is famous for using savory tamales and celebratory moles.
The mountainous regions in the West are known for goat birria (a kind of goat dish in a spicy tomato-based sauce). Central Mexico, due to its central location, is largely influenced by cuisines in the rest of the country, though it still has unique dishes such as pozole and menudo.
Lastly, Southeastern Mexico, which borders the Caribbean, spicy chicken-based dishes are popular, though it also reflects rich Caribbean influence due to its location.
