Authentic Mexican Grocery Opens in Ashland
Kathy Clayton
The Ashland Beacon
Authentic Mexican food is a favorite for many, and now it’s easier than ever to get that South-of-the-border flavor in your own kitchen.
El Carbonero Tienda Mexicana is a new Mexican grocery store that opened about a month ago at 2843 Winchester Avenue. Owned by Genaro J. Alvarado, the store offers a wide selection of Mexican grocery items and packaged foods from Mexico.
“I got the idea for opening this store from my mom and my brother in Mexico,” Alvarado explained. “They have a small business there, so this gave me the idea to sell the Mexican items here.” He noted that he has worked in several local Mexican and Italian restaurants, which has given him the experience he needed to select the items most people in the area want.
“I have many products made in Mexico – dried peppers and herbs, cinnamon to make cinnamon tea, Mexican bread, tortillas, flavored drinks. We have a Mexican pop called Jarritos that is very popular,” he continued. “And here is Horchata, made with rice milk and cinnamon.” Various cheeses are stocked in the refrigerated section, including Oaxaca cheese, an ingredient in quesadillas.
Alvarado noted that he is from the Veracruz state in Mexico. Besides his grocery items, he also stocks a few decorative items and products sporting the logos of Mexican soccer teams.
The store features a section of herbs used both for cooking and medicinally. Many of the herbs can be made into teas to treat various ailments. For example, rue tea can help with headaches, and tea made from chamomile stems called Manzanilla en Rava can help alleviate stomach aches. He said he had a customer who asked for Cola de Caballo, which is used to make a tea. The customer said it helped the swelling in his legs.
Customers will find plenty of Mexican snack foods to choose from – cookies, sweet and spicy candies and snack cakes. “We have palanqueta, candied peanuts, which is popular in Mexico,” he pointed out, “and cocada, which is coconut candy. And of course, we have chocolate and gum.”
Alvarado said he has been trying to advertise his story on Facebook and Tik Tok, and while business has been good, he hopes to see more people stop by to check out his inventory. “I also hope to offer even more items in the future.”
So, the next time Mexican food is on the menu at home, stop by El Carbonero Tienda Mexicana and add some authenticity to the menu.