The most vital ingredient in making the perfect tamal is the masa. Masa is the plain, wet stone-ground dough made with a special corn known as nixtamal. Fresh masa can be purchased in one of two ways, prepared and unprepared. Our family prefers to purchase unprepared masa and then we add lard, salt, broth, and baking powder, giving it the Muy Bueno touch. So if you choose to use our recipe make sure you purchase sin preparar (unprepared masa). Grandma prepared it this way for years and so do we. Masa can be purchased in Mexican specialty stores.