Most of the world's avocado cultivation occurs in Mexico and California, but the mountainous regions of Indonesia produce a large amount of the fleshy green fruit as well. In Southeast Asia and Brazil, avocados are commonly consumed in beverages such as milkshakes.

You probably already know burritos are hugely popular in both the U.S. and Mexico. Care to guess what the word "burrito" means? If you guessed it means "little donkey," you're right.

Many favorite Mexican dishes, such as tacos and enchiladas, traditionally include some kind of meat or fish, but more and more delicious vegetarian and vegan options are also on offer in modern Mexican establishments.

Traditional Mexican food has seen numerous cultural influences in its development. For example, the chile pepper has its origins in Spain, while Bolillo, a Mexican bread, has a distinctly French influence. Mexican cuisine also has strong Caribbean influences as well.

Desserts were not always an integral part of Mexican cuisine. Spanish influence assisted in developing sweet dishes that are now found in Mexican restaurants. Menu items like the “jericalla,” a Mexican egg custard and “chongos zamoranos,” sweet milk curds cooked in syrup, are variations of Spanish desserts.

Unfortunately, some chain restaurants that cover their dishes in cheese have given Mexican food a bad rap. When prepared according to traditional methods, Mexican food can be quite healthy.

Like Italy, Mexico has a number of delicious regional cheeses. Can you name some of the more popular cheeses of Mexico? Here are a few you may have missed: cotija (Mexican parmesan), panela, queso fresco, queso blanco, and Mennonite cheese.

Sugar skulls, otherwise known as ‘Calaveras de Azucar’, are Mexican candies that are specifically prepared for the Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) that is a very sacred annual Mexican tradition.

Pozole is a pre-Columbian stew native to the Americas and is often served in Latin American restaurants. It typically features pork or chicken and corn (usually hominy) as staple ingredients and is similar to a traditional Mexican dish called "chilaquiles.

Criollo is a sharp yellow cheese similar in color and taste to Muenster cheese. Hailing from an area near Taxco in the state of Guerrero, it's a favorite addition to Mexican dishes and works equally well grated or melted.

Avocados are one of the most fundamental ingredients in Mexican cuisine. Not only are they delicious but they are high in fibre, packed with over 20 vitamins and are one of the only fruits that contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat that actually lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol.

If you have a craving for a tamale, there are many different varieties to choose from, depending on what you are looking for. Tamales can be prepared with or without meat, as well as spicy or even sweet. There are some that even taste like dessert.