Guide to Mexican products at El Corte Inglés and Carrefour

One of the most frequent questions we get at Recetas Mexas is: "Where do I buy Mexican ingredients in Spain?". Although specialist Mexican shops are always the best option for finding variety and authenticity, the reality is that the big Spanish supermarkets have hugely expanded their range of Mexican and international products in recent years.

El Corte Inglés, Carrefour, Mercadona, Alcampo and Lidl all carry more and more Mexican products on their shelves. Knowing where to look and which brands to choose can make the difference between cooking an authentic Mexican recipe and settling for a mediocre result.

El Corte Inglés: the best high-end selection

Hipercor and El Corte Inglés Supermercado have, by far, the widest selection of Mexican products among the large Spanish stores. Their international food section usually takes up a whole aisle.

What you will find:

• Dried chiles: Ancho, guajillo, chipotle in adobo (canned), chile de árbol. Brands: La Costeña, San Marcos. Price: 2-4€.
• Tortillas: Wheat tortillas (several brands), corn tortillas (Old El Paso, Casa Fiesta). The corn ones are not artisanal but they work.
• Salsas: Valentina, Cholula, Tabasco Chipotle, La Costeña green salsa, La Costeña chipotles in adobo. Price: 2-5€.
• Beans: Canned black beans (La Costeña, Goya), refried beans. Price: 1.50-3€.
• Spices: Ground cumin, Mexican oregano (sometimes), chili powder, achiote paste. Look in the international spices section.
• Tortilla chips: Corn tortilla chips for nachos (several brands). Blue-corn ones sometimes appear in season.
• Mexican chocolate: Abuelita (Nestlé) or Ibarra chocolate appear occasionally in the international products section.
• Tequila and mezcal: The spirits section usually has 5-15 tequila references (José Cuervo, Patrón, Don Julio, 1800) and 2-5 mezcals. Price: 15-60€.
• Avocados: Always available and generally of good quality (Hass from Spain, Peru or Mexico).
• Pickled jalapeños: La Costeña or own brands. Price: 1.50-2.50€.

Key section: Look for the "International Food" or "World Cuisine" aisle. In some stores, the Mexican products share space with the Asian and Middle Eastern products.

Tip: The Club del Gourmet at El Corte Inglés occasionally has premium Mexican products such as artisan salsas, high-end mezcals and criollo-cacao chocolates.

Carrefour: good value for money

Carrefour has significantly improved its range of Mexican products, especially in its large hypermarkets.

What you will find:

• Chiles: Chipotles in adobo (La Costeña), dried chile de árbol, pickled jalapeños. The variety is smaller than at El Corte Inglés but the basics are there.
• Tortillas: Old El Paso (wheat and corn), Carrefour own brand (wheat). For authentic corn, it is better to go to a specialist shop.
• Salsas: Valentina, Cholula, canned green salsa. Sometimes they have Búfalo salsa.
• Beans: Canned Goya or La Costeña black beans. Sometimes dried pinto beans in the pulses section.
• "Mexican" kits: Old El Paso has complete kits for tacos, fajitas and burritos. They are not authentic but can serve as a base if you add your own salsas and proteins.
• Corn masa: Maseca or Harina PAN (the latter is more for arepas but works for tortillas). Not always available - check the international flours section.
• Tequila: 3-8 references. José Cuervo is always there. Sometimes there are reposado and añejo options.
• Nachos and tortilla chips: Several brands, including organic options.

Key section: "World Products" or "International Food". In large hypermarkets, it can take up half an aisle.

Tip: The Carrefour website lets you search for "mexicano" and filter by store to check availability before going.

Mercadona: the basics but accessible

Mercadona is not known for its international variety, but it has some useful products for Mexican cooking:

• Hass avocados: Good and well priced (1-2€ each).
• Pickled jalapeños: Hacendado brand, cheap and decent.
• Wheat tortillas: Hacendado brand, for burritos and quesadillas.
• Nachos/tortilla chips: Hacendado brand, salted or flavoured.
• Black beans: In the canned-pulses section, sometimes Goya-style brands.
• Spices: Cumin, paprika (substitutes for ancho chile in emergencies), oregano.
• Limes/lemons: Always available. Use limes for a more Mexican flavour than yellow lemons.
• Fresh habanero chile: Some branches have it in the vegetable section. It is a recent addition and is not in every shop, but when you find it, it is perfect.

See our specific guide to Mexican ingredients at Mercadona for more details.

Alcampo and Hipercor: solid alternatives

Alcampo has a decent international section in its large hypermarkets. The range is similar to Carrefour: chipotles in adobo, salsas, tortillas, canned beans. It varies a lot by store.

Lidl and Aldi: occasional surprises

Lidl and Aldi have Mexican-cooking themed weeks (usually in spring-summer) where they offer temporary products such as salsas, tortillas, taco kits and nachos at very competitive prices. It is worth keeping an eye on their leaflets.

Amazon Spain: for what you cannot find in store

Amazon has become an excellent option for specialist Mexican products that are not in supermarkets:

• Maseca and Minsa masa for tortillas
• Various dried chiles (morita, mulato, pasilla, cascabel)
• Achiote paste (El Yucateco)
• Tajín salsa (essential for fruit and cocktails)
• Abuelita and Ibarra chocolate
• Mole paste (Doña María)
• Piloncillo/panela
• Corn husks for tamales

Read our guide to Mexican shopping on Amazon for detailed recommendations.

What will you NOT find in supermarkets?

There are Mexican ingredients you will only find in specialist shops:

• Fresh hoja santa and epazote: Fresh herbs that are not commercially grown in Spain.
• Fresh nopales: Very rarely in supermarkets. In Mexican shops, yes.
• Various fresh chiles: Serrano, poblano, chilaca - only in specialist shops.
• Fresh nixtamal masa: Only in artisan tortillerías.
• Squash blossom: Very seasonal and only at farmers' markets.
• Huitlacoche: The "Mexican truffle" (corn fungus) is practically impossible to find in Spain.
• Authentic Mexican cheeses: Oaxaca, panela, cotija. Some substitutes work (mozzarella for Oaxaca, ricotta for panela).

For these specialist ingredients, see our guide to Mexican shops where you will find options in all the main cities.

Final shopping tips

1. Read the labels: Many products labelled "Mexican" are tex-mex or adaptations. Look for real Mexican brands: La Costeña, San Marcos, Herdez, Valentina, El Yucateco.
2. Buy online: If your local supermarket does not have what you are looking for, buy online. Amazon, Mexican shops with delivery and specialist websites have everything.
3. Store dried chiles: Dried chiles last for months in a cool, dry place. Buy in quantity when you find them.
4. Substitute wisely: Read our article on Mexican ingredient substitutes to know what to use when you cannot find the original.

The availability of Mexican products in Spain improves every year. With a little planning and knowing where to look, you can prepare the vast majority of authentic Mexican recipes with ingredients you find in your usual supermarket, supplementing with occasional purchases at specialist shops. Explore our Mexican recipes and start cooking with the ingredients you have to hand.