6 Healthy Superfoods That Originated In Latin America

Pulsating with deep-rooted history and tradition, Latin American food has origins that reflect its narrative, its people, and its shared experiences. Each region has a multifaceted culinary story to tell, intensely imbued by the flavors, ingredients, and recipes derived from a rich cultural lineage.

Origin: Mesoamerica

Scientific name: Theobroma cacao

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Cacao Elixir, Cacao Mug Cake

The world-acclaimed cacao (or chocolate) we consume today looks radically different from the roasted and fermented one Aztecs and Mayans drank hundreds of years ago. Popular among Mesoamerican cultures, these godly beans were mostly consumed by the elite—reserved for special occasions, festivals, and religious rituals, such as the end of the Mayan calendar. The cacao beans were also used as currency in commercial trade, or as dowry in wedding ceremonies.

Cacao's ancient, aphrodisiac, and medicinal praise became well known to the Spanish Conquistadores in the 16th century, who eventually spread this high-priced crop across the rest of Europe.

Today, most chocolate is consumed in sweetened, butter, or powder versions with added flavoring or fillings. Modern research has also found that cacao is rich in minerals, flavonoids, and other health-supporting antioxidants. Studies have shown that cacao may help support brain health1, protect nerves from inflammation and injury, plus help lower blood pressure and heart disease risk2.

Origin: South America

Scientific name: Solanum lycopersicum

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Warming Tomato + Red Pepper Soup, Thyme + Tomate Eggs

All species of tomatoes derive from the same nightshade family: Solanaceae. Thought to have originated in the high Andes before moving northward (though its journey from wild to domesticated3 is debatable), tomatoes have been a crucial source of nutrients for many civilizations since ancient times. After arriving in Mexico in the 16th century, Spaniards (again) took these fruits back to Europe, ultimately transforming the way the entire world ate. 

Origin: Mexico and Central America

Scientific name: Cucurbita

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Versatile Roasted Squash, Breakfast Squash + Apple Bake

Origin: South America

Scientific name: Lepidium meyenii

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Salted Maca Caramel, Maca Bliss Balls

Thought to have been cultivated for at least 2,000 years, this Andean powerhouse has been a venerable staple for culinary and medicinal purposes alike—including a stamina support for Incan warriors.

Origin: Central American

Scientific name: Carica papaya

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Tropical Feel-Good Smoothie 

Known to the Mayans as "the tree of life," papayas have been widely used for healing and nutrition purposes since Mesoamerican times (leaves, fruit, seeds, bark, and all). Even though the exact origins of domestic papayas10 is still up for debate, researchers do know that papayas were cultivated by Indigenous people of Mexico and Central America. This led to larger, plumper fruits, which are perhaps closer to the edible papayas we know today.

After their historic voyage through the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and beyond—papayas are now grown extensively across most tropical, warm regions of the world. Further, papaya's leaf extract has been praised as an anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and immunomodulatory11 agent.

Origin: Central and South America

Scientific name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Healthy Latin-Inspired Recipes: Black Bean + Sweet Potato Soup, Three Simple Black Bean Patties

Like the other Latin foods above, black beans have been a staple for thousands of years, thanks to their high-protein and fiber-rich nutrition profile.