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1. Chipotle – A ripe jalapeno that has been dried for use in cooking. It is the compound of chilli “pepper” and poctli “smoke.”
2. Cacao – Derives from cacahuatl and is the root form of the name for the cacao bean itself.
3. Chocolate – An adaptation of xocolatl, which is probably made up of xocol “to make bitter” and atl, “water” Chocolate was originally a drink.
4. Guacamole – Derives from āhuacamōlli. It is the compound of āhuacatl (“avocado”) + mōlli (“sauce). Literally means “avocado sauce.”
5. Avocado – Derives from the Nahuatl word “ahuacatl” which literally means tree testicles.
6. Tomato – Adaptation of the Nahuatl word “tomatl.”
7. Peyote – Adaptation of the Nahuatl name peyōtl which is said to be derived from a root meaning “glisten” or “glistening.”
8. Mezcal – Derives from the Nahuatl word “Mexcalli” which is a compound word for “cooked Maguey.”
9. Jalapeno – From Xalapa (also spelled Jalapa) is the capital city of Veracruz, Mexico, where the pepper was traditionally cultivated. The name is of Nahuatl origin, formed from roots xālli “sand” and āpan “water place.”
10. Chia – The Mayan word for strength. It was the third most important crop in the Aztec culture right behind corn and beans.
11. Coyote – Derives from coyotl, the Nahuatl term for the animal.
12. Mesquite – Adaptation of the Nahuatl word “mizquitl” and is a Mesquite tree.
13. Tamal(tamale) – From the Nahuatl word “tamalli” meaning wrapped.
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