New Mexico Regards Roasted Chili as Official State Flavor

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The sweet scent of open-fire roasted green chilies pervades New Mexico each fall, wafting from roadside stalls and grocery store parking lots, inviting tantalizing visions of gastronomy.

Now, one state lawmaker says it’s time for everyone to wake up and smell the chili.

Senator Bill Soules’ visit with Southern District fifth graders sparked conversations about savory peppers and the potential for New Mexico to proudly become the first state to have an official state scent. rice field. MP.

“It’s very unique to our state,” a Las Cruces Democrat said of roasting Chile. yeah.”

For New Mexico, chili is more than a staple ingredient in every meal. it’s life. This is at the heart of the state’s official question “red or green?” — and is one of the state’s official vegetables.

New Mexico will produce more than 60% of the U.S. chili pepper harvest in 2021 and is a farming village known as the Chilean capital of the world for its unique red and green peppers that have been produced for generations. It is the home of Hutch. The famous crop is also used in powders, sauces and salsas that are shipped worldwide.

A law recognizing roasted chiles as an official flavor passed its first committee on Tuesday, and supporters say it’s unlikely to cause much debate.From lattes to breakfast burritos to pepper-infused enchiladas. and a plate of tamales.

“Chili is in the heart of every New Mexican and it’s on the plate. The aroma of freshly roasted green chillies brings back memories of eating and enjoying our beloved specialty.” We like to call that memory our “Chilean story,” and each of us who is New Mexican has a Chilean story,” said the executive director of the New Mexico-Chile Association. Travis Day said.

Officially recognizing the scent could also pay off as another way to market New Mexico to visitors.

According to the bill’s legal analysis, the peak tourist season usually begins in March and tapers off towards the end of October. In other words, it overlaps with the roasting season of chili. The analysis found that New Mexico has consistently lower visitor numbers than neighboring Colorado, reporting 84.2 million visitors in 2021, compared to nearly 40 million in New Mexico. It has also been reported that

“New state scents may help keep visitors away from Colorado, which we believe has green chiles that rivals New Mexico for some reason,” the analysis said. , a nod to the ongoing feud between the two states.

A former teacher and elementary school principal, Soules has used Aroma legislation as an opportunity to teach fifth graders about the legislative process. Students have researched state symbols in New Mexico and elsewhere as part of their preparation to testify on behalf of the bill.

“They are learning how to lobby and write letters to lawmakers in support of this bill, and they are practicing public speaking,” Soules said. “It’s also a good education because they’re learning a lot about other things with this topic as part of their curriculum.”