‘Abarrotes’ means groceries in Spanish. This is a typical small storefront of a small Mexican grocery store
Most people in the US have a similar experience when grocery shopping. Large supermarkets carry a dizzying array of fresh produce, packaged foods, and pre-prepared meals in their 15 or 20 long aisles of shopping area.
One of many small grocery shops in the town of La Manzanilla
Shopping for groceries in small-town Mexico is a different experience. Instead of a supermarket, most towns have a few “mini-supers” or abarrotes. These are generally small, one-room (or two room if they’ve been successful and taken over the neighboring storefront) shops.
A typical mini-super will have a small selection of fruit and produce. There is nearly always a selection of chile peppers (fresh and dried jalapenos, serranos, and arbol can be found even in the smallest of places) and onions, while tomatillos and cabbage are usually available. Depending on how recently a delivery has been made, there may be lettuce, cucumbers, and even they very occasional piece of broccoli.
Taking a peak into the cooler with fresh, warm corn tortillas
A cooler invariably holds corn tortillas, still warm from the local tortilla press. One wall is home to two or three beverage coolers with cold beer (mostly Pacifico and Tecate in the north, Corona and Victoria further to the south) and bottles of soda. It’s rare to find any sugar-free soda other than Diet Coke, but if you’re craving sugar there’s usually a wide variety of fruit drinks and juices and energy drinks.
There are generally one or two shelves with staples – a few dusty rows of canned beans and tomatoes. Eggs are usually available – they’re stored unrefrigerated and are sometimes priced by piece and sometimes by weight. A top-opening freezer stores meat and cheeses, although most people go to the local butcher/carniceria if it’s open (and if the town is large enough to support one).
Heading into one of the larger abarrotes in Barra de Navidad
Some blocks will have two or more abarrotes, and sometimes they’re even located right next door to one another. It’s not immediately clear to outsiders like us how they all stay in business, but it makes for a fun shopping afternoon to explore the small shops.
