Food
Mexican food is mostly a combination of native cooking with European, particularly Spanish, elements added after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. The fundamental staples are native foods such as beans, chili peppers, and corn, but the Europeans introduced a large number of other foods, the most significant of which were meat from cultivated animals (beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep), dairy products (especially cheese) and various herbs and much spices.