Celebrate National Chamoy Day with spicy, tangy treats in El Paso

It seems fitting that National Chamoy Day, which is June 13, falls so close to summer.

The popular Mexican condiment is found on many fun summer treats, from fresh fruit bowls and candies to alcoholic drinks and snow cones!

Chamoy surprisingly originates from Asia, possibly from the Japanese food, umeboshi, which is a type of picked ume fruit such as plum or apricot, according to National Today

Nevertheless, chamoy is a popular choice for many Hispanics who like adding some kick to their snack. The deep red sauce brings about sweetness with spiciness and is tangy.

Here are some places to celebrate National Chamoy Day and more information about chamoy.

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What is chamoy sauce? Chamoy is made out of salted, dried fruit. It traditionally derives from ume plums (which are actually small sour apricots) but is also known to be made from other fruits like sour green mangoes or tamarind pods, and is then blended with chiles - which gives it that bright red color, according to www.mashed.com

The dried fruit can also be ground into a powder. It can be enhanced with other flavors like lime juice or tajin. In fact, tajin and chamoy are often paired together.

Dulces Miguelito is a manufacturer of chamoy sauce and candy since 1971.

Try a Mango Chamoy Margarita at Los Jarrones In El Paso, mangonada-flavored margaritas are pretty popular. Los Jarrones, at 170 Redd Road, makes a flavorful and big frozen Mango Chamoy Margarita for $5.99. You have to use two hands with that 24-ounce rounded glass.

Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Taco Cabana serves inexpensive chamoy margaritas When it comes to inexpensive frozen margaritas, it's hard to beat Taco Cabana restaurants.

The restaurant offers plenty of tasty flavors, including lime, strawberry, mango, strawberry mango and Mangonada, which is mango with chamoy, either decorating the rim or poured on top. A typical margarita costs $3.79.

However, Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, when you can get them for $2.

MnM Snack Shop on East Side offers chamoy pickles, fruit cups The MnM Snack Shop at 13001 Emerald Pass Suite A has been offering lots of tasty year-round treats for more than a year.

The shop offers everything from corn on the cob or in a cup and chilindrinas to papas locas, nachos, and ice cream treats.

For National Chamoy Day, you might want to try the Coctel de Frutas, a seasonal fresh fruit concoction made of pineapple chunks, watermelon and cantaloupe pieces and slices of jicama, all smothered in the tasty red chamoy, with some lemon juice and sprinkled with tajin. Each bite is both sweet and tangy. The fruit cup costs $7.25 and is a good, filling snack.

The shop also offers the Chamoy Pickle, $12.99, for the more adventurous palette. The pickle is covered in chamoy and rolled in a fruit roll up, and topped with gummy candies and tajin.

Bahama Buck's has the Mangonada Extreme snow cone During the summer, snow cones are a much-needed treat in El Paso. And Bahama Bucks businesses are usually busy filling cups with shaved ice and popular flavors like Tiger's Blood and cherry.

However, if you want a tangier snow cone, you will want to order the Mangonada Extreme snow cone. The snow cone comes with a dollop of chamoy on mango-flavored ice pieces of mango, some chili salt and a tamarindo straw. Snow cones come in various sizes from baby, $3.99, and large, $5.19, to the big Avalanche, $7.29.

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María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok.