The organic face of Oaxaca: mercado El Pochote
May 18th, 2007 by Barbara SoldiAnother pleasant discovery in Oaxaca (again, thanks to Ron Mader!) was El Pochote, the largest organic market in town, which takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm at Garcia Vigil #817.
I was introduced to my great pleasure to this enchanting mix of flavours, colours and smells (the idea of a rural and exotic version of London’s Borough Market came across my mind as soon as I stepped in…), where you can try fantastic food prepared with fresh ingredients, local sweets and candies, exotic beverages like Tejate (tasty and refreshing coconut-based drink), and of course the organic coffee and chocolate Oaxaca is famous for.
Ron told me not all products are organic, although everything that is featured in the market (packaged or unpackaged) is natural.
Other items sold at El Pochote are body care products, flowers and plants, mezcal, and natural health remedies. I am sure I am forgetting many other things… I suggest someone should go there and report them in a comment 
May 19th, 2007 at 11:43 am
What a pleasant visit. Great to meet you, Barbara!
The Pochote market certainly has sparked a new movement toward organic and natural products. Personally, I am not a fan of the ‘organic certification’ as the be all and end all measurement here in Mexico. It’s easier, for example, to have organic bananas or coffee, but what about more complicated dishes, such as the mole sauce or Oaxacan sausages? As a consumer, I am satisfied if these products are produced in a sanitary fashion.
One correction - tejate is not made from coconut, but rather roasted cacao beans, corn, mamey seed and rosita flowers (flor cacahuaxochitl). Details - http://tinyurl.com/ynoqzs