Polina Saran and Aidan Rose

October 11, 2024

Food and Hospitality

VIDEO: Unwrapping the history of tamales

MSU Denver celebrates the ancient culinary tradition with a cooking workshop as part of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

Polina Saran and Aidan Rose

October 11, 2024

Tamales aren’t just delicious; they’re an important culinary tradition dating back thousands of years.

“Tamales were really the first element that was made, along with tortillas, by the Indigenous peoples in pre-Columbia America,” said José Quintana, senior lecturer in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Department of Chicana/o Studies.

On Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day, MSU Denver’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion celebrated this ancient custom with a tamal-making workshop as part of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

“I’m sure I’m making my mom and family proud, being able to come here and share (their tamal recipe) with everyone,” said Manuel Del Real, Ph.D., executive director for HSI and Inclusion at MSU Denver.

In this video, Del Real and Quintana share why tamales are an important part of their culture and heritage.

Learn more about the University’s HSI initiatives.

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