You probably never heard of the town of Talpa, about two hours by car from Puerta Vallarta. Talpa is a mountainous town and
the home of edible art in the "Cradle of gum."
In a mission to boost development by attracting tourists with it's centuries old traditions, Talpa is expected to attracting 20 million visitors this year. The Mexican government is trying to steer more tourists to small towns like Talpa, in a new program called "magic towns."
The gum creations are works of art. There is nowhere else in the world where craftsmen and women produce these works of art. The gum is unflavored and chewable. The creations are sculpted using only a pair of scissors and tweezers. The gum disks are bathed in hot water to soften them, then colored with a rainbow of vegetable dyes, then cut and rolled into long strings. The artist might create a rose, a pair of shoes, a mariachi band, fruits and veggies, hats, animals, just about anything you can think of.
The annual gum competition takes place each year, with the first prize of $425 at stake, but what's really at stake is bragging rights until the next competition.
I fell in love with these little gum creations when I first saw them at my mom's house in LA. Her live in companion, Chayo, had acquired some from a friend. She is now trying to get some more for me from a friend traveling to Talpa. I can't wait to see what she brings me.
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