What is Mole (MOE-lay)?

Often served during Mexican celebrations, mole (pronounced MOE-lay), is a delicious sauce poured over meat.

There are many mole sauces, though a popular one uses chocolate as the base. Mole can often be time consuming and require hard-to-find ingredients, which is why at Mexican Palate we sourced authentic mole from Puebla so you can enjoy the taste without breaking a sweat! Interested in making your mole from scratch? Try this recipe.

 History of Mole: The true origins of mole trace back to pre-Hispanic cultures, where a rich blend of chili peppers, pumpkin seeds, holy grass, and tomatoes created a sauce known as mulli (simply meaning 'sauce').

The origins of mole can be traced back to the pre-Hispanic era, likely in Puebla or Oaxaca, where indigenous communities combined chili peppers, pumpkin seeds, holy grass, and tomatoes to create the precursor to mole, known as mulli. This flavorful sauce played a role in sacred ceremonies, symbolizing an offering to the gods. It included turkey meat, and occasionally duck or armadillo.

Throughout history, mole has consistently held a position of honor during important Mexican celebrations. Whether it is a wedding, quinceañera, or other festivity, mole remains an integral part of Mexican culture.