Isabel Arriaga Lozano carefully fills a small pastry with a savoury mix of meat, potatoes and chili pepper. She is crafting a "paste” (pronounced PAH-stay), a beloved Mexican snack with a rich history.
Originating in the mining town of Real del Monte, in the Mexican central state of Hidalgo, the "paste” was introduced by British miners in the 1820s and has since become a local culinary tradition. Each year, food enthusiasts converge on Real del Monte to celebrate the International Paste Festival, honouring its delicious heritage.
