1 00:00:10,362 --> 00:00:12,522 Speaker 1: This is an iHeart original. 2 00:00:18,842 --> 00:00:21,642 Speaker 2: The Mexican state of Michuwa Khan is not what most 3 00:00:21,682 --> 00:00:24,842 Speaker 2: people picture when they think of Mexico. Michuwa Kan sits 4 00:00:24,882 --> 00:00:27,562 Speaker 2: more than a mile above sea level, where the air 5 00:00:27,722 --> 00:00:31,282 Speaker 2: is cool and temperate. So instead of beaches and palm trees, 6 00:00:31,602 --> 00:00:36,122 Speaker 2: picture rolling mountains and pine forests. Driving through the Michuwa 7 00:00:36,202 --> 00:00:40,642 Speaker 2: Khan countryside, you'll pass avocado orchards, fields of white corn 8 00:00:40,762 --> 00:00:45,402 Speaker 2: waiting to be ground into tortillas, and roadsides stands selling 9 00:00:45,442 --> 00:00:50,442 Speaker 2: Tothia cheese, a crumbly salty regional delicacy. The scenery is 10 00:00:50,482 --> 00:00:54,762 Speaker 2: interrupted by the occasional village. Most are humble and unremarkable 11 00:00:54,962 --> 00:00:58,202 Speaker 2: until you arrive at Docombo, a small town with a 12 00:00:58,242 --> 00:01:02,562 Speaker 2: big reputation in Mexico. Standing triumphantly at the entrance to 13 00:01:02,602 --> 00:01:03,802 Speaker 2: Do Coombo is a. 14 00:01:03,762 --> 00:01:05,082 Speaker 1: Thirty foot statue. 15 00:01:05,202 --> 00:01:09,202 Speaker 2: It's not a venerated with religious figure or a popular hero. 16 00:01:09,042 --> 00:01:10,242 Speaker 1: From the Mexican Revolution. 17 00:01:10,842 --> 00:01:15,242 Speaker 2: It's a popsicle, a towering cherry red popsicle, complete with 18 00:01:15,282 --> 00:01:18,002 Speaker 2: a wooden stick. There's a large bite taken out of 19 00:01:18,002 --> 00:01:21,562 Speaker 2: the popsicle, and inside that hole is a blue globe 20 00:01:21,802 --> 00:01:25,602 Speaker 2: representing the Earth. That too is covered with smaller images 21 00:01:25,642 --> 00:01:30,162 Speaker 2: of popsicles and ice cream cones like so many rainbow sprinkles. Why, 22 00:01:30,362 --> 00:01:33,482 Speaker 2: you might ask, did the residence of a random Mexican 23 00:01:33,522 --> 00:01:37,842 Speaker 2: town erect a shrine to the popsicle? Because the combo 24 00:01:38,202 --> 00:01:42,802 Speaker 2: is the birthplace of the Paletta, the proudly Mexican frozen 25 00:01:42,842 --> 00:01:46,082 Speaker 2: treat that is quietly and quickly taking over the world. 26 00:01:48,322 --> 00:01:51,842 Speaker 2: This is a very special Sinko de Mayo edition of 27 00:01:52,442 --> 00:01:56,122 Speaker 2: very special episodes the Popsicle Kings of Mexico. 28 00:02:00,882 --> 00:02:04,242 Speaker 3: Happy Cinco de Mayo. I'm Jason English. We will get 29 00:02:04,242 --> 00:02:06,522 Speaker 3: you back to Zaren Burnett in a moment, But to 30 00:02:06,562 --> 00:02:09,242 Speaker 3: Mark day O. We have a short episode this week 31 00:02:09,522 --> 00:02:12,762 Speaker 3: written by Dave Russ, who's one of our regulars. Dave 32 00:02:12,802 --> 00:02:15,522 Speaker 3: and I went to college together. We didn't know each other. 33 00:02:15,882 --> 00:02:18,162 Speaker 3: He was a senior when I was a freshman, but 34 00:02:18,242 --> 00:02:20,522 Speaker 3: I knew his work. I knew his writing because he 35 00:02:20,602 --> 00:02:23,882 Speaker 3: was the humor columnist at our college newspaper and I 36 00:02:23,922 --> 00:02:27,162 Speaker 3: was a big fan. The column he wrote that sticks 37 00:02:27,162 --> 00:02:30,842 Speaker 3: with me all these years later was about I aversion 38 00:02:30,962 --> 00:02:33,842 Speaker 3: on campus and how to know when someone is avoiding 39 00:02:34,002 --> 00:02:37,922 Speaker 3: acknowledging you, and some strategies that Dave employed to avoid 40 00:02:38,002 --> 00:02:41,362 Speaker 3: acknowledging others. Fast forward many years and I figure out 41 00:02:41,362 --> 00:02:44,442 Speaker 3: that he is working on stuff you should know here 42 00:02:44,682 --> 00:02:48,482 Speaker 3: at iHeart, the biggest podcast ever. He's on the research team, 43 00:02:48,922 --> 00:02:51,562 Speaker 3: and so we reconnected, I mean really connected for the 44 00:02:51,602 --> 00:02:54,362 Speaker 3: first time, and it's great to finally get to work 45 00:02:54,362 --> 00:02:56,722 Speaker 3: with him here on very special episodes. We'll have more 46 00:02:56,722 --> 00:03:00,042 Speaker 3: of Dave stuff this summer, but for now, I'm going 47 00:03:00,082 --> 00:03:01,282 Speaker 3: to kick it back over to Aaron. 48 00:03:04,202 --> 00:03:07,522 Speaker 2: Every town in Mexico, big or small, at least one 49 00:03:07,562 --> 00:03:10,322 Speaker 2: paletta shop or pelletaia as they're called. 50 00:03:10,602 --> 00:03:12,282 Speaker 1: You can spot a paleta ria. 51 00:03:12,122 --> 00:03:15,162 Speaker 2: By the festive chest freezers pushed up to the sidewalk 52 00:03:15,202 --> 00:03:19,202 Speaker 2: containing rainbow colored rows of rectangular popsicles. 53 00:03:19,482 --> 00:03:22,682 Speaker 4: There's so many of these everywhere that it's also become 54 00:03:23,602 --> 00:03:28,802 Speaker 4: almost an essential part of every decent town plaza. And 55 00:03:28,842 --> 00:03:32,242 Speaker 4: you don't have a good balataria on your plaza, your 56 00:03:32,282 --> 00:03:35,642 Speaker 4: plaza is not quite up to snuff. 57 00:03:36,282 --> 00:03:39,722 Speaker 2: That's journalist Sam Pugnonees, who wrote about paletas in his 58 00:03:39,882 --> 00:03:42,722 Speaker 2: terrific book True Tales from Another Mexico. 59 00:03:43,362 --> 00:03:46,882 Speaker 4: Everywhere you go, I've seen this all over Mexico. From 60 00:03:46,882 --> 00:03:49,602 Speaker 4: a border down way south of Mexico City. 61 00:03:49,642 --> 00:03:52,802 Speaker 1: You see that on Sundays. 62 00:03:52,482 --> 00:03:56,242 Speaker 4: The balataria is the place where families take a walk 63 00:03:56,282 --> 00:03:59,042 Speaker 4: around the plaza, and it's just one of these wonderful 64 00:03:59,082 --> 00:04:02,242 Speaker 4: things that a family stops in the ice cream shop 65 00:04:02,762 --> 00:04:07,122 Speaker 4: and gets, you know, ice cream or fruit juices or 66 00:04:07,122 --> 00:04:09,402 Speaker 4: whatever on a hot Sunday afternoon. 67 00:04:10,242 --> 00:04:13,162 Speaker 2: By one count there are more than thirty thousand pileta 68 00:04:13,242 --> 00:04:14,722 Speaker 2: shops in Mexico. 69 00:04:14,442 --> 00:04:15,522 Speaker 1: Thirty thousand. 70 00:04:15,882 --> 00:04:19,402 Speaker 2: Wherever you go from Mexico City to Kankun to Tijuana, 71 00:04:19,762 --> 00:04:22,322 Speaker 2: most of those paleta shops will have the word michu 72 00:04:22,362 --> 00:04:26,162 Speaker 2: Wa Kan somewhere in their name. La Michua Kana, floor 73 00:04:26,282 --> 00:04:30,442 Speaker 2: de Michua Kan, lian da Michua Kan. That's because the 74 00:04:30,482 --> 00:04:34,642 Speaker 2: booming Mexican palleta industry traces its humble origins back to 75 00:04:34,682 --> 00:04:37,482 Speaker 2: the state of Nichua Kan, and specifically to the town 76 00:04:37,522 --> 00:04:42,042 Speaker 2: of Tukombo. In the nineteen forties, millions of Mexican men 77 00:04:42,162 --> 00:04:45,282 Speaker 2: from small towns like to Coombo traveled north for work. 78 00:04:45,602 --> 00:04:47,682 Speaker 2: They were hired by American farms as part of the 79 00:04:47,722 --> 00:04:51,762 Speaker 2: Brasero work program during World War Two, but two young 80 00:04:51,802 --> 00:04:54,962 Speaker 2: men from to Combo decided to stay put and try 81 00:04:55,002 --> 00:04:58,882 Speaker 2: their luck in Mexico City, the fast growing capital. Augustine 82 00:04:58,882 --> 00:05:03,042 Speaker 2: Andrere and Ignacio Alcazar left to Combo separately, and both 83 00:05:03,082 --> 00:05:06,522 Speaker 2: found work in ice cream shops. Andrere, who was orphaned 84 00:05:06,562 --> 00:05:09,562 Speaker 2: at Si, saved up enough money to open his own 85 00:05:09,602 --> 00:05:13,642 Speaker 2: palleta shop in Mexico City in nineteen forty one. Alcazar 86 00:05:13,842 --> 00:05:17,362 Speaker 2: followed suit, and words spread quickly into Combo that there 87 00:05:17,402 --> 00:05:21,002 Speaker 2: was money to be made in paletas. By the nineteen fifties, 88 00:05:21,082 --> 00:05:25,002 Speaker 2: there was a steady paletta pipeline from Tacumbo to Mexico City. 89 00:05:25,442 --> 00:05:28,442 Speaker 4: All these people from this one little town at Nichuakan 90 00:05:28,762 --> 00:05:31,322 Speaker 4: began to come out to Mexico City, which makes sense 91 00:05:31,362 --> 00:05:36,122 Speaker 4: because Mexico City was the country's largest consumer market and 92 00:05:36,202 --> 00:05:38,402 Speaker 4: it was a very very working class place. 93 00:05:38,882 --> 00:05:43,562 Speaker 2: Pioneers like Andradre and Alcazar built mini palleta empires. They 94 00:05:43,602 --> 00:05:46,242 Speaker 2: lent money to follow the combents to open up more 95 00:05:46,362 --> 00:05:50,242 Speaker 2: and more shops. Andrare eventually opened one hundred and seventy 96 00:05:50,282 --> 00:05:53,202 Speaker 2: seven paletrias in Mexico City alone. 97 00:05:53,482 --> 00:05:57,922 Speaker 4: The real business became selling popsicle stores. You start a store, 98 00:05:58,042 --> 00:06:01,362 Speaker 4: you hire some people, you sell it eventually to those 99 00:06:01,362 --> 00:06:03,722 Speaker 4: same employees who have now learned how to manage it, 100 00:06:03,962 --> 00:06:06,682 Speaker 4: or you sell it to your cousin or your cousins, 101 00:06:06,962 --> 00:06:09,522 Speaker 4: you know, a brother in law or whatever. They had 102 00:06:09,562 --> 00:06:12,002 Speaker 4: a certain amount of trust because they're all from the 103 00:06:12,002 --> 00:06:15,322 Speaker 4: same town. Everyone knew where each other's parents lived. So 104 00:06:16,002 --> 00:06:19,202 Speaker 4: that became the business and that is why it really 105 00:06:19,282 --> 00:06:23,962 Speaker 4: began to spread and multiply, like Amiba, that business model 106 00:06:24,042 --> 00:06:25,602 Speaker 4: all across Mexico. 107 00:06:27,042 --> 00:06:32,362 Speaker 2: From Mexico City, Tacombin's took their palettas to Puebla, Guadalajara, Zacatecas. 108 00:06:32,602 --> 00:06:33,802 Speaker 1: These weren't franchises. 109 00:06:34,282 --> 00:06:37,762 Speaker 2: Each Paleta Star was independently owned and operated, but the 110 00:06:37,842 --> 00:06:41,402 Speaker 2: Tucombo connection was clear from the name outside. 111 00:06:41,042 --> 00:06:45,402 Speaker 4: Florida to Kombo, Lindo, Mitracan, Pallet La Metrocana. It's all 112 00:06:45,442 --> 00:06:49,042 Speaker 4: the same business model and started by some guys in 113 00:06:49,082 --> 00:06:54,162 Speaker 4: the nineteen fifties from this little town called Tokombo and Metrocan. 114 00:06:54,882 --> 00:06:58,202 Speaker 2: Something as delicious and refreshing as a paleta cannot be 115 00:06:58,282 --> 00:07:02,202 Speaker 2: contained by international borders, and the paleta pipeline was about 116 00:07:02,242 --> 00:07:02,922 Speaker 2: to flow. 117 00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:12,282 Speaker 1: North to the United States in the nineteen eighties. 118 00:07:12,322 --> 00:07:14,842 Speaker 2: Harado Ramirez grew up just a few miles from to 119 00:07:14,962 --> 00:07:18,402 Speaker 2: Combo and Kotia, the town famous for its crumbly cheese. 120 00:07:18,522 --> 00:07:21,602 Speaker 2: In his twenties or other, moved to San Diego and 121 00:07:21,962 --> 00:07:22,442 Speaker 2: once he. 122 00:07:22,482 --> 00:07:24,282 Speaker 5: Was in the States, you know, he was in the 123 00:07:24,322 --> 00:07:28,122 Speaker 5: service industry, working a lot of restaurants, and finally he said, 124 00:07:28,122 --> 00:07:31,682 Speaker 5: you know, I don't want this to be how I retire, 125 00:07:31,882 --> 00:07:34,002 Speaker 5: like he kind of wanted to build something his own. 126 00:07:34,562 --> 00:07:38,322 Speaker 2: That's Jennifer Clausim Kiros talking about her uncle Harrado, who 127 00:07:38,322 --> 00:07:40,402 Speaker 2: opened to Combo ice Cream in San Diego in the 128 00:07:40,442 --> 00:07:41,442 Speaker 2: early two thousands. 129 00:07:41,802 --> 00:07:44,402 Speaker 6: He noticed that every time you would travel back to Mexico, 130 00:07:44,962 --> 00:07:47,202 Speaker 6: he was still so drawn to all the ice creams. 131 00:07:46,962 --> 00:07:50,762 Speaker 5: In the paletas in the city of Tocumbo and Kotiha, 132 00:07:51,362 --> 00:07:54,482 Speaker 5: And so when he came back, he said, WHYMA opened 133 00:07:54,522 --> 00:07:57,042 Speaker 5: something up here that's similar to the places that I 134 00:07:57,122 --> 00:07:59,402 Speaker 5: used to work out when I was younger, and the 135 00:07:59,442 --> 00:08:02,842 Speaker 5: flavors that we seek every time we go traveling back 136 00:08:02,882 --> 00:08:03,482 Speaker 5: to Mexico. 137 00:08:04,042 --> 00:08:06,802 Speaker 2: It was one of the first authentic micho wa kan 138 00:08:07,042 --> 00:08:10,762 Speaker 2: style of paletrias in southern California, and in classic to 139 00:08:10,842 --> 00:08:14,282 Speaker 2: Combo fashion. He brought his family into the business. Jennifer 140 00:08:14,322 --> 00:08:17,402 Speaker 2: and her brother Ricardo Kiros opened their own to Combo 141 00:08:17,482 --> 00:08:19,802 Speaker 2: ice Cream store in Anaheim in twenty sixteen. 142 00:08:20,282 --> 00:08:23,042 Speaker 6: We want to make sure we're keeping it as authentic 143 00:08:23,082 --> 00:08:26,122 Speaker 6: as possible to what our uncle sought to do in 144 00:08:26,162 --> 00:08:27,162 Speaker 6: the beginning. 145 00:08:27,242 --> 00:08:31,322 Speaker 5: And also to the pakoombo recipes that he's so hard 146 00:08:31,362 --> 00:08:35,362 Speaker 5: work to get to resemble the true flavors of that 147 00:08:35,442 --> 00:08:37,242 Speaker 5: town and our state as well. 148 00:08:37,762 --> 00:08:40,642 Speaker 2: If you've never had a Palita before, don't walk into 149 00:08:40,642 --> 00:08:42,802 Speaker 2: to Combo ice Cream expecting a popsicle. 150 00:08:42,922 --> 00:08:47,762 Speaker 7: Ricardo says, popsicle has usually been well in America traditionally 151 00:08:47,802 --> 00:08:50,562 Speaker 7: just all sugar food coloring, like there's like. 152 00:08:50,562 --> 00:08:51,402 Speaker 1: A gimmick to it. 153 00:08:51,802 --> 00:08:57,762 Speaker 7: Balletas are real ingredients, usually real fresh fruit, real dairy. 154 00:08:58,122 --> 00:09:02,922 Speaker 7: Like there's no like funny stuff going on. It's pretty straightforward. Oh. 155 00:09:02,962 --> 00:09:06,762 Speaker 6: Palita also isn't afraid of texture, so they'll have nuts, 156 00:09:07,042 --> 00:09:09,762 Speaker 6: mom don't have Like we're people seeing real fruit and 157 00:09:10,442 --> 00:09:12,962 Speaker 6: it's not so blended in that you lose the texture 158 00:09:13,002 --> 00:09:13,522 Speaker 6: of the fruit. 159 00:09:13,842 --> 00:09:16,202 Speaker 7: It's like just blows people away and we're like like, whoa, 160 00:09:16,282 --> 00:09:19,242 Speaker 7: the strawberry actually has strawberries in it, you know, like 161 00:09:19,242 --> 00:09:21,202 Speaker 7: like the watermelon has watermelon, and they're. 162 00:09:21,002 --> 00:09:24,922 Speaker 2: Like, yeah, who knew watermelon and strawberry are good first time, 163 00:09:25,162 --> 00:09:28,322 Speaker 2: play it safe Baltas, but come on, it's sinco tomayo. 164 00:09:28,722 --> 00:09:31,042 Speaker 1: What are some of the more adventurous flavors? 165 00:09:31,722 --> 00:09:36,962 Speaker 5: So, the dairy ones are pistacho Noise, which is lot. 166 00:09:36,842 --> 00:09:40,042 Speaker 1: Nut, autosponechi, which is my favorite. We make the atto 167 00:09:40,082 --> 00:09:41,562 Speaker 1: sponachin house for those. 168 00:09:42,082 --> 00:09:44,682 Speaker 5: What else do we have big big from like my 169 00:09:44,842 --> 00:09:46,082 Speaker 5: dad's thin treat. 170 00:09:46,842 --> 00:09:51,962 Speaker 6: We have vanilla with membryo, which is like a fruit 171 00:09:52,082 --> 00:09:54,962 Speaker 6: leather candy that on like some people eat. 172 00:09:55,162 --> 00:09:56,962 Speaker 5: And then the non dairy ones. 173 00:09:56,762 --> 00:10:01,642 Speaker 6: We have lime maracle ya, which is packing fruit nanse, 174 00:10:01,842 --> 00:10:04,522 Speaker 6: which is one of those little like cult fruits that 175 00:10:04,602 --> 00:10:05,202 Speaker 6: are kind of. 176 00:10:05,922 --> 00:10:09,122 Speaker 5: Smelly and they have a very specific taste and they're 177 00:10:09,122 --> 00:10:09,882 Speaker 5: more savory. 178 00:10:10,402 --> 00:10:13,682 Speaker 1: What about mango, there's gotta be mango. Oh well, yeah, 179 00:10:13,762 --> 00:10:14,642 Speaker 1: we have three mangos. 180 00:10:14,682 --> 00:10:17,482 Speaker 5: Hold on, We've got mango mango bong. 181 00:10:17,402 --> 00:10:20,722 Speaker 1: Chile, which is the more savory spicy one, and then 182 00:10:20,762 --> 00:10:23,682 Speaker 1: we have mango Punchamoi, which is like the most popular one. 183 00:10:23,882 --> 00:10:26,922 Speaker 2: With a polita shop named Toakombo, we're going to attract 184 00:10:26,922 --> 00:10:31,882 Speaker 2: customers from Michua kan and to impress those folks, Ricardo says, 185 00:10:31,962 --> 00:10:35,842 Speaker 2: you need a legit mutu wa kan flavor you need chongos, 186 00:10:36,162 --> 00:10:36,762 Speaker 2: kind of like how. 187 00:10:36,682 --> 00:10:40,242 Speaker 7: Tapumbo is known for making ice cream where parents are 188 00:10:40,282 --> 00:10:42,362 Speaker 7: from Kotillas meant for making cheese. 189 00:10:42,642 --> 00:10:44,522 Speaker 1: Samura is made for making. 190 00:10:44,402 --> 00:10:47,082 Speaker 7: Chungos, which are pretty much just the sweetened milk curds 191 00:10:47,722 --> 00:10:50,962 Speaker 7: and it's a big, big ten flavor. Getting me chaka 192 00:10:51,002 --> 00:10:53,762 Speaker 7: and ice cream and poleta wise, So that was the 193 00:10:53,842 --> 00:10:55,162 Speaker 7: staple from day one. 194 00:10:55,722 --> 00:10:58,242 Speaker 2: The Combo ice Cream makes their own chongos in house, 195 00:10:58,362 --> 00:11:02,282 Speaker 2: none of that canned stuff. So do their chungos poletas 196 00:11:02,322 --> 00:11:03,842 Speaker 2: pass the test? 197 00:11:04,522 --> 00:11:07,562 Speaker 7: Telling the story now it sounds like I'm making it 198 00:11:07,642 --> 00:11:10,442 Speaker 7: up or just like reciting like a Hallmark movie or something, 199 00:11:10,442 --> 00:11:14,242 Speaker 7: because we've had like older people come in and literally 200 00:11:14,282 --> 00:11:16,922 Speaker 7: be brought to tears, Like when I was a child, 201 00:11:17,162 --> 00:11:21,202 Speaker 7: my parents would take me and this is exactly what 202 00:11:21,242 --> 00:11:23,442 Speaker 7: it tastes like. And I've been in this country for 203 00:11:23,922 --> 00:11:26,642 Speaker 7: like sixty plus years, i haven't gone back. I haven't 204 00:11:26,642 --> 00:11:30,282 Speaker 7: gone back home, and like it's it's just bringing back 205 00:11:30,282 --> 00:11:32,762 Speaker 7: all these memories. And it was hard for us to 206 00:11:32,802 --> 00:11:37,562 Speaker 7: believe that something so like almost insignificant could like stir 207 00:11:37,682 --> 00:11:40,482 Speaker 7: up that level of emotion, but it did, and on 208 00:11:40,562 --> 00:11:41,842 Speaker 7: numerous occasions. 209 00:11:42,202 --> 00:11:45,682 Speaker 5: Yeah, like Sean says, it's that ratitude moment where you get. 210 00:11:45,562 --> 00:11:48,922 Speaker 1: That, you know, sense of your childhood. That's really cool 211 00:11:48,962 --> 00:11:49,482 Speaker 1: to see. 212 00:11:50,042 --> 00:11:52,642 Speaker 2: Jennifer and Ricardo have never been to Ta Combo, but 213 00:11:52,802 --> 00:11:55,242 Speaker 2: they hope to make the pilgrimage one day to the 214 00:11:55,282 --> 00:11:58,642 Speaker 2: birthplace of the Palleta. Sam Cagnone is visited to Combo 215 00:11:58,762 --> 00:12:01,842 Speaker 2: several times, including during the Faerie de la Peleta, to 216 00:12:01,962 --> 00:12:06,042 Speaker 2: Combo's annual popsicle fair every December. 217 00:12:06,042 --> 00:12:09,802 Speaker 4: And they had all the street lights with popsicle shades 218 00:12:09,842 --> 00:12:10,362 Speaker 4: over them. 219 00:12:10,642 --> 00:12:12,202 Speaker 1: I mean, it was just all about. 220 00:12:11,922 --> 00:12:15,322 Speaker 4: The popsicle, honoring the popsicle for all it had done 221 00:12:15,442 --> 00:12:19,602 Speaker 4: for them to allow them to, you know, advance economically 222 00:12:19,722 --> 00:12:23,442 Speaker 4: and culturally. And you saw all these gorgeous houses, some 223 00:12:23,522 --> 00:12:26,482 Speaker 4: of them big, some of them not so big, all 224 00:12:26,522 --> 00:12:28,962 Speaker 4: of them painted different colors, so much so that I 225 00:12:28,962 --> 00:12:31,042 Speaker 4: remember I stood up on a hill at one point 226 00:12:31,362 --> 00:12:34,242 Speaker 4: and it hit me that looking down on the village, 227 00:12:34,522 --> 00:12:37,202 Speaker 4: it looked like a whole bunch of multi colored popsicles, 228 00:12:37,242 --> 00:12:39,522 Speaker 4: all crammed together in a refrigerated case. You know, it 229 00:12:39,562 --> 00:12:40,522 Speaker 4: was an amazing thing. 230 00:12:42,722 --> 00:12:46,562 Speaker 2: This week we're celebrating Sinco DeMaio easily the biggest Mexican 231 00:12:46,562 --> 00:12:49,162 Speaker 2: holiday in America, even though no one knows what it's 232 00:12:49,202 --> 00:12:53,762 Speaker 2: really about. Sinko Demayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That's 233 00:12:53,802 --> 00:12:57,442 Speaker 2: September sixteenth, and it wasn't invented by Don Julio to 234 00:12:57,522 --> 00:13:01,122 Speaker 2: sell more tequila, although sometimes it feels that way. Sinco 235 00:13:01,202 --> 00:13:05,202 Speaker 2: de Mayo commemorates a historic military victory. On May fifth, 236 00:13:05,242 --> 00:13:09,562 Speaker 2: eighteen sixty two, rag tag Mexican army defeated the elite 237 00:13:09,602 --> 00:13:13,122 Speaker 2: French forces of Emperor Napoleon the Third at the Battle 238 00:13:13,162 --> 00:13:14,042 Speaker 2: of Puebla. 239 00:13:14,282 --> 00:13:17,122 Speaker 1: Yes, the French tried to invade Mexico, but that's a 240 00:13:17,162 --> 00:13:18,042 Speaker 1: whole different story. 241 00:13:18,442 --> 00:13:21,802 Speaker 2: When Mexicans living in California and Nevada heard about the 242 00:13:21,962 --> 00:13:26,882 Speaker 2: underdog victory, they threw spontaneous parades and fiestas and parties 243 00:13:27,042 --> 00:13:30,922 Speaker 2: that became an annual celebration every May fifth. Maybe it's 244 00:13:30,962 --> 00:13:33,922 Speaker 2: a stretch, but we think the story of Tacombo and 245 00:13:33,962 --> 00:13:37,882 Speaker 2: the Paletta qualifies as another underdog victory. Thanks to some 246 00:13:38,002 --> 00:13:40,962 Speaker 2: hard working, risk taking folks from this tiny town and 247 00:13:41,042 --> 00:13:44,722 Speaker 2: michu A Kan, the Paletta has conquered Mexico and is 248 00:13:44,762 --> 00:13:48,522 Speaker 2: steadily taking over the world. There are thousands of Paleta 249 00:13:48,602 --> 00:13:52,362 Speaker 2: shops now in the United States. Jennifer and Ricardo say 250 00:13:52,642 --> 00:13:55,722 Speaker 2: there are at least a dozen in Anaheim alone. One 251 00:13:55,762 --> 00:13:59,642 Speaker 2: palleta chain just opened a store in Dubai. So if 252 00:13:59,642 --> 00:14:02,242 Speaker 2: you're looking for something a little different this Cinco de Mayo, 253 00:14:02,482 --> 00:14:03,922 Speaker 2: put down your nachos and. 254 00:14:03,962 --> 00:14:05,362 Speaker 1: Corona light for a second. 255 00:14:05,682 --> 00:14:09,162 Speaker 2: Open up your favorite map sap type in balletas or 256 00:14:09,402 --> 00:14:13,842 Speaker 2: damcha wakana or even do coombo. Chances are an underdog 257 00:14:14,002 --> 00:14:17,122 Speaker 2: entrepreneur has opened up Paleta shop or two or three 258 00:14:17,442 --> 00:14:18,362 Speaker 2: right in your town. 259 00:14:18,762 --> 00:14:22,002 Speaker 1: And for the record, you can't go wrong with mangochile. 260 00:14:22,682 --> 00:14:26,442 Speaker 2: It's the perfect balance of sweet and spicy valise. 261 00:14:26,642 --> 00:14:27,522 Speaker 1: Sinco de Mayo. 262 00:14:32,682 --> 00:14:35,682 Speaker 3: Very special episodes is made by some very special people, 263 00:14:36,122 --> 00:14:39,202 Speaker 3: like I mentioned up top. Today's mini episode is written 264 00:14:39,202 --> 00:14:42,682 Speaker 3: by Dave Russ. Dave's last VSSE was Night of one 265 00:14:42,722 --> 00:14:45,682 Speaker 3: Thousand Weddings back in March, and we'll have more day 266 00:14:45,802 --> 00:14:49,562 Speaker 3: this summer. This show is hosted by Zaren Burnett, Danish Schwartz, 267 00:14:49,682 --> 00:14:53,562 Speaker 3: and Jason English. Our producer is Josh Fisher. Editing and 268 00:14:53,642 --> 00:14:58,042 Speaker 3: sound design by Jonathan Washington. Additional editing by Mary Doo. 269 00:14:58,762 --> 00:15:03,242 Speaker 3: Original music by Elise McCoy. Show logo by Lucy Kintonia. 270 00:15:03,882 --> 00:15:06,242 Speaker 3: Our executive producer is Jason English. 271 00:15:07,082 --> 00:15:08,002 Speaker 1: To email the show, you. 272 00:15:08,002 --> 00:15:12,122 Speaker 3: Can reach us at Very Special Episodes at gmail dot com. 273 00:15:12,402 --> 00:15:14,602 Speaker 3: We'll see you back here next week for the night 274 00:15:14,722 --> 00:15:19,642 Speaker 3: the Globetrotters lost. Very Special Episodes is a production of 275 00:15:19,762 --> 00:15:20,882 Speaker 3: iHeart Podcasts.