Listen "The burrito story"
Episode Synopsis
Ruth Alexander explores the origins and evolution of the humble grab-and-go food the burrito, which started life in northern Mexico, before crossing over into the US and becoming a hit around the world. Versions of the spicy wrap can be enjoyed in restaurants, street food shacks and supermarket home meal kits all over the world. We explore the burrito’s contested origins, find out why some Mexican food purists dislike the popular menu item and ask what the future holds for it, and the cuisine more broadly. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] (Picture: a burrito in a restaurant in Juarez, Mexico. Credit: Vianey Alderete Contreras/BBC)Presented by Ruth Alexander.
Produced by Sam Clack.
Additional reporting by Vianey Alderete Contreras in Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, United States.
Produced by Sam Clack.
Additional reporting by Vianey Alderete Contreras in Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, United States.
More episodes of the podcast The Food Chain
Tweaks for 2026: How to eat better
08/01/2026
Family ties
25/12/2025
What is the ultimate hangover cure?
18/12/2025
Food heroes and villains
11/12/2025
How to eat well in the cold
04/12/2025
To tip or not to tip?
27/11/2025
Food by drones?
13/11/2025
Turmeric: The golden spice
06/11/2025
The chefs
30/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.