The Food & Culture of Oaxaca, Mexico
The Politics of Food in Oaxaca - January 2025
Food & Culture in Oaxaca
January 15 to 23, 2025 | Your Guide: Mimi Marchev
Oaxaca is a vibrant medley of flavors, colors, and traditions that immerse travelers in the heart of Mexican culture. Seated high within the Sierra Madre mountain range, Oaxaca city, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, captivates with its colonial architecture, bustling markets, and welcoming atmosphere. Cobblestone streets wind through the historic center, where ornate churches stand alongside lively plazas. Beyond the city's confines, the landscape unfolds into a mosaic of arid valleys, agave fields, and mountainous indigenous villages, each contributing to Oaxaca's rich cultural tapestry.
Central to the allure of Oaxaca is its culinary scene, deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions and revered as one of Mexico's gastronomic capitals. Known as “The Land of the Seven Moles”, Oaxaca’s cooking history originates from its strong indigenous roots; notably from the Zapotec and Mixtec people, which continues to thrive today. Many of Oaxaca’s most popular dishes, including mole, tamales in banana leaves, and tlayudas are from these traditions. Food is not merely sustenance here; it is an expression of heritage, identity, and community. Markets overflow with fresh produce, aromatic herbs and spices, simmering moles and tamales and handmade tortillas, inviting visitors to embark on a sensory journey of culinary treasures.
What truly sets Oaxaca apart is the warmth and hospitality of its people. From the bustling markets to the quaint neighborhood eateries to the high end restaurants, locals eagerly share their culinary traditions and stories, inviting visitors to sample new food, ask questions, and linger over a lovingly prepared meal . You’ll be encouraged to strike up conversations with local Oaxacans, learning more about indigenous ingredients, farming practices, and the history of agriculture in the region.
The Politics of Food
In Oaxaca, food is not only a cultural cornerstone but also a political statement, reflecting the region's ongoing struggles for social justice and economic autonomy. Indigenous communities, whose culinary traditions have shaped the identity of Oaxaca, have long been at the forefront of movements advocating for land and water rights, environmental protection, and cultural preservation. The cultivation of traditional crops like corn, beans, and squash is not just a means of sustenance but a form of resistance against the encroachment of industrial agriculture and genetically modified seeds.
Moreover, Oaxaca's vibrant food scene serves as a platform for promoting social equity and sustainable development. Initiatives such as community-run cooperatives, urban gardens, organic farmers markets and direct marketing and distribution empower local farmers and artisans, and endeavor to ensure that the benefits of tourism and economic growth are shared equitably among all members of society.
Dates: January 15 to 23, 2025 in Oaxaca, Mexico
Cost: $3850 (see below for details)
Maximum group size: 12
Meet your tour leader
Mimi Marchev
Mimi Marchev
Mimi served for 10 years as the Academic Director of college programs run by SIT Study Abroad, leading groups of US college students on academic semester programs in Chile and Mexico.
Mimi has also run other programs in Oaxaca, including ones for the River Gallery School and Maine Audubon, as well as other custom programs for US universities and organizations.
After earning a Masters degree from SIT Graduate Institute, Mimi served as Academic Director for the SIT Study Abroad programs in Valparaiso, Chile and Oaxaca, Mexico, and more recently in SIT headquarters in Vermont in the Legal and HR departments supporting the global SIT Study Abroad staff.
Mimi is a permanent resident of Mexico and enjoys retirement in Oaxaca, serving on the Board of Libros Para Pueblos and offering translation and interpretation services to several local NGOs.
In organizing this trip, Mimi has drawn from the many contacts she has in Oaxacan academic, cultural and culinary circles to arrange language teachers, guides, cooking class instructors, and more.
Tour Activities
While in Oaxaca, you will divide your time between the two thems of our tour: Cuisine and Culture. Examples of possible tour activities include:
Cuisine:
Visits to major traditional public markets both in and outside the city
Dinners at top restaurants & experience local markets
Comida típica at village restaurants while on excursions
A hands-on cooking class with an experienced Oaxacan chef
A visit to the famous Tlacolula Sunday market and tiangis, including a meal at a local restaurant serving only the traditional moles of Oaxaca.
Visits to several traditional markets in Oaxaca city, including the Central de Abastos, the huge wholesale market that supplies produce to the rest of the state.
A visit to a mezcal palenque to learn the history of this important local beverage and observe the production process from agave (maguey) plant to your glass.
A hands-on workshop to experience how Oaxacan chocolate is made and its importance in the history and culture of the Oaxacan people.
Meals during the tour will be taken at local restaurants traditional markets, village homes, food cooperatives, as well as several of the fine restaurants with internationally renowned chefs who have made Oaxaca the “Culinary Capital of Mexico.”
Culture:
Visits to museums and galleries:
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Museo de Antropología de Rufino Tamayo
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
Other activities:
Walking tour of the historic center of Oaxaca
Teotitlan del Valle visit to woman’s cooperative (woven woolen rugs)
San Martin Tilcajete (alebrijes)
Ocotlan (black pottery)
Where we’re based: Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca is a safe and accessible city that lies at 5,000 feet in the interior of southern Mexico. Its sunny and warm climate attracts a growing number of visitors, but the city has escaped the rapid development found along the coasts in Mexico. Your fellow visitors are as likely to be Mexicans from elsewhere in the country or European as Americans.
The city lies in a valley surrounded by mountains and its historic center could be as easily in Spain as in Mexico. Such is the Spanish heritage of this vibrant city. But Oaxaca is uniquely Mexican and it is considered a cultural jewel both by Mexicans and by visitors.
The center of the city is quiet with pedestrian streets, outdoor cafes, galleries and craft shops. There are many public markets within walking distance of the city center, not to mention the zocalo central plaza with its wrought iron bandstand, cathedral, botanical gardens, and the dominant Templo de Santo Domino.
Oaxaca is also a place of great ethnic diversity, as you’ll see while we visit some of the many villages that surround the city. In addition to Spanish, you’ll have the chance to pick up some vocabulary from 15+ indigenous languages spoken in the area.
Where we’ll stay:
We will stay at the Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere, a short walk from the historical center of Oaxaca. The hotel features comfortable rooms, an inviting pool, and pleasant outdoor spaces for breakfast and general relaxation.
The Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere’s website is at: www.casadelatiatere.com
Trip Details
(Click + to expand)
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January 15-23, 2025 (8 nights - 9 days)
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Total cost of the tour: $3850
Supplement for single occupancy: $475
Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $350
(Places in the tour are limited to 12 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early!)Payment schedule
$350 deposit. The deposit is refundable through September 1, 2024.
$1750 initial payment (Due September 1, 2024)
$1750 final payment (Due November 1, 2024)
All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.
** Earn a $300 discount when you bring or refer a friend.
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Cooking class
Excursions and special activities throughout the week
Pickup and drop-off at designated airport
8 nights lodging
8 dinners and breakfasts, with appropriate amounts of alcohol
Local transportation by van and driver
What’s not included:
Airfare & Travel Insurance
Lunches
Misc. entry fees
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We will stay at the Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere, a short walk from the historical center of Oaxaca. The hotel features comfortable rooms, an inviting pool, and pleasant outdoor spaces for breakfast and general relaxation.
Learn more about the hotel at: www.casadelatiatere.com
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Dinners will be taken at local restaurants throughout the week. Breakfasts are at our hotel.
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To extend your trip, and take some time to catch up on your sleep before the tour begins, you may wish to arrive early.
You can also extend your trip with a visit to the coast.
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Your deposit is non-refundable after September 1, 2023 unless of course the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. After that date, payments you make are nonrefundable.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.
Note: This trip will involve quite a lot of walking both inside and out of the city of Oaxaca. Within the city there are cobblestones and other uneven surfaces. You must be able to walk distances, as city dwellers do, over uncertain surfaces to participate in this trip.
