Tortilla

A tortilla ( , Spanish:) is a thin, circular unleavened flatbread, originally made from corn (maize) but now also made of wheat flour. The corn tortilla is a staple food in most of Mexico and Central America, while the flour tortilla is typical of Northern Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine. The tortilla has become popular across the world.

Corn tortillas are made by treating corn with limewater, a process known as nixtamalization, forming a dough known as masa, which is baked on a griddle. Flour tortillas are made of refined wheat flour, water, and shortening, and are generally larger than corn tortillas. Both types are commonly industrially produced, with corn tortillas usually using a dehydrated form of masa called masa harina. Tortillas are soft but quickly become stale. They are high in calories but lack essential nutrients.

Fresh tortillas can be used to carry various ingredients, forming dishes such as the taco, burrito, enchilada, and quesadilla. They may instead be used as a spoon to pick up accompanying food. Other uses of tortillas include dishes such as tortilla soup and fried products such as tostadas and tortilla chips.

Tortillas were first made by ancient peoples of Mesoamerica, where corn was an important crop. Corn tortillas became a cornerstone of Mesoamerican cuisine as complex societies formed, including the Oaxaca Valley and the Aztec civilization. Tortillas also spread to the Maya civilization. After the 16th-century Spanish conquest of Mexico, corn tortillas remained popular among indigenous communities. Flour tortillas were invented after the Spanish introduced wheat to Mexico, becoming common among settlers of Northern Mexico. The flour tortilla remained popular in parts of Mexico that became part of the United States, including Texas and California. Mass-produced tortillas became common in the 1950s, using tortilla machines and masa harina. Tortillas became common globally in the early 21st century.

The tortilla is the most consumed food in Mexican and Central American cuisine, as well as a national symbol of Mexico. Rural indigenous communities of Mexico frequently prepare corn tortillas at home, while the urban population purchases tortillas from bakeries known as tortillerias or from supermarkets. Tortillas are also common in the United States due to Hispanic influence on American cuisine. Mexican food establishments and manufacturers such as Gruma have made tortillas a global industry.