Tabasco: as Hot as the Sauce! 

Most Americans associate the word “Tabasco” with the famous hot sauce, a standard condiment on the tables of many restaurants and households. Yet Tabasco is actually a state in Mexico and it has more spice than one might think! Unlike the sauce which was founded in Louisiana in 1868, the state of Tabasco dates back to pre-Columbian times when the Olmecs and Mayas still ruled the region.

The word Tabasco is derived from Tla-uash-co, meaning “place that has owner,” in the Mexican language, although some translate it as “Waterlogged Earth.” 

Located in the Gulf of Mexico region and bordered by the states of Campeche to the northeast, Veracruz to the west, Chiapas to the south and the country of Guatemala. Tabasco excels in its oil production, boasting one of Mexico’s largest oil fields. It is also rich in natural beauty and historical archeological sites. Surely, Tabasco is a destination that will please even the most demanding and/or avid tourist.

Villahermosa, the state capital of Tabasco, is located in the Gulf Coast region in southeastern Mexico.  It is known as the Emerald of the Southeast. This modern city offers a wide variety of cultural and tourist attractions such as the Municipal Palace, a Convention Center, Parque Tabasco, beautiful residential areas and the Tabasco 2000 Complex which includes a Planetarium, a great mall, restaurants and a five-star hotel.

In the Agua Selva nature reserve you’ll find huge waterfalls, excellent cliffs for rock climbing and a cavern known as the Cueva de la Luz, an ideal spot for cave diving. At the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve you can tour the Usumacinta and Grijalva rivers as well as visit the Yu-Balcah Ecotourism Center, a protected area that serves as a refuge for howler monkeys.

When one thinks gastronomy and spice, Tabasco is yet another Mexican destination flourishing with exquisite and delicious dishes - great to be accompanied by Tabasco sauce if one wishes! In any of Tabasco’s cities or towns you can enjoy excellent cuisine like ensalada de pejelagarto (fish salad), tortas de iguana (iguana pancakes), pan de platano (banana bread) and pozol (a drink made from ground corn and cacao). These are just some of the dishes you can try here that have Mayan and Chontal-influenced recipes.

Allow your taste buds to go beyond the hot and spicy and explore Tabasco on your next vacation - you’re bound to love it!

For further information on Tabasco, go to:
http://www.tabasco.gob.mx/
http://www.tourtabasco.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12