What is it
- Our plants
are from the Opuntia ficus indica variety. This type of Nopal
cactus is the edibable variety. When the term Nopal is
used, it refers to the edible variety. The term Nopalitos
refers to the pads once they are cut up and prepared for
eating. There are two food crops derived from the Nopal.
One is the "nopalitos" which are the cactus pads and the
other crop is the prickly "pear" fruit of the cactus, grown in
Northern Mexico and are eaten fresh in that region. So
central was Nopal to the indigenous culture of Mexico that they are
the root of Mexico City's Aztec name, Tenochtitlan, meaning "place
of the cactus".
In cases of drought, Nopal was the lifeblood
of ancient cultures here, food for both people and their livestock.
They also were used to soothe wounds, stiffen cloth, strengthen
mortar and fence off wild animals. Cattle that grazed on the Nopales
were said to develop a special flavor in their meat and
milk.
Nopal is part of the ficus indica genus of the Opuntia
plant family. Opuntia or Cactus plant has over 100 varieties.
Nopal - ficus indica is the plant that is
on our web pages. The pictures show what is called here in
the markets as Nopal Verde, or green edible Nopal .
Please note that all Nopal is green...! We call
the kind we eat as Nopal verde. Black and white are
not the real color of the plant its just a name.
Nopal Verde - (opuntia
indica) - Green
Nopal Nopal Blanco – (Opuntia microdasys)
- White Nopal
Nopal Negro – Various variety s - Black
Nopal
1.) Green Nopal (indica) - Is the best variety to eat
if what you want to eat is the pad or leaf.
It is the Nopal referd to as opuntia indica. This Nopal is called green because it has a bright green color, is very tender
and very delicious. Indica can only grow at high altitude, with a certain moisture level and it requires very specific volcanic soil conditions. Temperature is also important.
Nopal verde really is only grown in three regions of Mexico. Morelos, Puebla and in Mexico City. All these regions grow what is called
the Milpa Alta variety.
We grow our Nopal on
the other side of the mountains of Milpa Alta (as on the Mexico City
side). The fields are 20 air miles from Milpa Alta, on the
same mountain range and exact same conditions. except that as we
face the West we have two hours more sun each day.
2.) Black Nopal- This
is the variety that bears the pear fruit. The fruit is also
known as tuna, Indian Fig or Prickly Pear.
The pads and/or leaves are not real edible and do not have
the nutrimental benefits of Indica. It has many more spines than the opunitia ficus Indica variety and is
not as healthy or tasty as Indica. The fruit is delicious
and can be in these colors: yellow, purple, red, orange
and green. Tuna variety can be grown at lower altitudes,
requires less moisture, and more arid conditions. It is
mainly grown in the North Central States of Queretaro, State
of Mexico, Hidalgo, Guanajuato and San Luis Potosi.
Opuntia
Tuna Variety - that grow Tunas or Prickly pear fruit
- also known as Indian Figs
Streptacantha Opuntia Cattle Feed Variety – White
Nopal - Low altitude, not for eating, high temperature,
no water. Grown in Northern States, compensates for dry
conditions for cattle.
Nopal History - The cactus a native to
Mexico. It is has been noted that the Nopal was grown and eaten
as a vegetable in Central Mexico, since before the Spanish
arrived. The Spanish explorers took the plant back to Spain
and the plant spread throughout North Africa with the
Moors. The plant is currently grown throughout Mexico as well
as parts of the United States and in areas of the
Mediterranean.
Green Nopal is
eaten throughout Mexico.
But its only grown in a few
areas in the mountains. 60% is grown in the state of
Mexico. 20% in the State of Morelos and 5%
in the state of
Puebla (both of which border the state of Mexico). The
rest (10%) is spread over Mexico.
