Avocados

The avocado (Persea americana) originated in the broad geographical area stretching from the eastern Mexican highlands to the Pacific Coast of Central America. In pre-Columbian times avocados were disseminated to other places in Central America and Peru. Its seeds have been found in archaeological sites in Mexico dating to 6000 BCE. The Aztecs consumed avocados in a variety of ways, one of which was to make a sauce base called ahuaca-mulli or “guacamole,” which consisted of mashed avocados with chopped tomatoes and New World onions.