María Biscuit Atole

History & Origin

María biscuit atole is one of the most beloved and nostalgic variants of Mexican atole, a drink that directly evokes the childhood and afternoon snacks of millions of Mexicans. María biscuits, that simple, sweet product that has been omnipresent in Mexican kitchen cupboards since the early 20th century, found in atole a perfect vehicle for transformation into a comforting hot drink. The history of this combination is inseparable from the history of María biscuits in Mexico: introduced as an industrial product in the first decades of the 20th century, they quickly became the quintessential popular biscuit, affordable and accessible to all social classes. Mexican mothers discovered that soaked in hot milk they dissolved easily, creating a sweet and nutritious porridge perfect for feeding small children. From there to turning it into atole was just one step: adding cornflour to thicken, cinnamon to scent and vanilla to round out the flavour. Today it is sold at atole stalls throughout Mexico, especially during the Day of the Dead and Christmas season.