"Crystallised Sweets Fair in Xochimilco"

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15 July 2025

Claudia Morales and Manuel Morales, originally from Santa Cruz Acalpixca in the Xochimilco district of Mexico City, dedicate themselves, along with others, to the production and sale of crystallized sweets. They aim to promote their products, such as chilacayote, pumpkin, beet, pineapple, and nopal, which they transform by hand into crystallized sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of convent origin that emerges in the New Spain era. It consists of slowly cooking fruits or vegetables in water and sugar, which gives them a translucent appearance. According to information from the municipality, crystallization is a preserving method that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. At that time, techniques based on quicklime or calcium oxide are used; one of the most famous is nixtamalization. The Crystallized Sweets Fair has been held since 1982 in Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, Mexico City.

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#10258110

12 July 2023

View of cocadas (a typical Mexican sweet) during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258112

12 July 2023

From left to right, Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco; Juanita Alarcon, producer of crystallised sweets; and Jose Carlos Acosta Ruiz, mayor of Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweets Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258114

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258116

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258118

12 July 2023

Jose Carlos Acosta Ruiz, mayor of Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258120

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, holds her baton during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258122

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, holds her baton during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258124

12 July 2023

Jose Carlos Acosta Ruiz, mayor of Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258126

12 July 2023

From left to right, Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco; and Juanita Alarcon, producer of crystallised sweets, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweets Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258128

12 July 2023

Juanita Alarcon, producer of crystallised sweets, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweets Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258130

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, holds her baton during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258132

12 July 2023

Jose Carlos Acosta Ruiz, mayor of Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258134

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, holds her baton during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258136

12 July 2023

Jose Carlos Acosta Ruiz, mayor of Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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#10258138

12 July 2023

Abuelita Amalia Salas Casales, artisan, traditional doctor and activist for the defence of the land, corn, water and chinampas of Lake Xochimilco, during a press conference at the Archaeological Museum in the municipality of Xochimilco, Mexico City, on the occasion of the Crystallised Sweet Fair in Santa Cruz Acalpixca. This fair has been held since 1982 in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, Xochimilco, with the purpose of making known products such as chilacayote, pumpkin, carrots, nopal, among others typical of the region; ingeniously transformed in an artisanal way into delicious and exotic sweets. The crystallization of sweets is a technique of conventual origin that was born in the novo-Hispanic era, it consists of a slow cooking in water and sugar of fruits or vegetables, with which it acquires a translucent appearance.

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