If we look closely, we will also find lesser known products such as palo azul, cancerina, cuachalalate, damiana, and piedra alumbre. What are these things and what are they used for? In short, the first three are barks and the last one is a stone. All of them are thought to have healing properties.
Most people will visit this section of the supermarket to buy cooking ingredients but others will look for natural remedies. Selection varies widely depending on the supermarket and the area. This one named Junior’s is located in Edinburg, Texas. It carries a wide selection of products used in Curanderismo. Here’s a list:
- Gobernadora (mullein brush)
- Estafiate (mugwort)
- Diente de Leon (dandelion)
- Borraja (borrage)
- Gordolobo (mullein flowers)
- Curcuma (turmeric)
- Barbas de Elote (corn silk)
- Alucemia (lavender flowers)
The store is located in a predominantly Mexican American community. Edinburg is located about 20 miles from the Texas-Mexico border. There is a strong cultural influence from the traditions of Northeast Mexico, specially the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. For example, the there are bags of seasoning combining cumin and peper corns together. These two ingredients plus oregano form the triad of seasonings found in the traditional dishes of Nuevo Leon.
Another example of the regional cuisine is the presence of many bags of menudo mixes. Menudo is a spicy soup made with beef tripe, hominy and a red chilli pepper base. It’s usually garnished with diced onions and oregano. Menudo is a signature dish in South Texas, Tamaulipas and Nuevo León usually enjoyed on the weekends. Menudo is said to alleviate the symptoms of hangovers.
The third row from the top has pepper corns and cumin in the same bag. The row below it has plenty of menudo mixes. Below the menudo mixes is the oregano.
Curandero Project 
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