Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Oldways’ A Taste of Latin American Heritage!

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th to October 15th, a time to honor the history, culture, and traditions of Americans with Hispanic roots. At Oldways, we’re celebrating in the way we know best—through food, culture, and community connection!

This month, we highlight the rich influence Hispanic people have had on the ingredients and flavors that shape the American food scene. From everyday Hispanic staples like tamarind, yuca, curtido, plantains, tomatillo, and a variety of Latin American spices, to regional specialties cherished across the Americas, these flavors tell a story of heritage, tradition, and shared history.

Ways We’re Celebrating This Month

Webinars & Conversations

• September 12 – Oldways & The Charlie Cart: Cooking and Collaboration!
  Join a live cooking demo featuring Chef Liesha, Cecily Upton, Carolyn Federman, and Sarah Anderson. Learn hands-on with Oldways’ A Taste of African Heritage and Latin American Heritage programs. Watch the recording here!
• October 8 – Blending Culinary Traditions, Preserving Heritage: Seminole Foodways and History. Learn about culinary traditions from El Nacimiento, Coahuila, Mexico, and the recipes preserved in the Mascogo Recetario, and gain insight into the ways food knowledge traveled, and culinary traditions were mixed as members of different communities interacted. This webinar features Dr. María Esther Hammack, Corina Torralba, and Sarah Anderson. Watch the recording here!

Advisory Board Spotlights

• Dr. Hannia Campos, former Harvard School of Public Health nutrition scientist who now lives in her native country, Costa Rica, shared her expertise in a blog post interview with Oldways this month, discussing the role of traditional Latin American foods in promoting wellness and preventing disease. Her insights showcase the intersection of research, heritage, and nutrition in everyday eating.
• Oldways Latin American Heritage Advisor, Steve Alvarez teaches a class called Taco Literacy at St. John’s University. As a part of the course, his students will be sharing various Latin American Heritage dishes on Instagram throughout September, including tamarindo agua fresca and more. Follow along with his class page @tacoliteracy for a sneak peak into their journey. Learn more by reading our Q&A blog post!

Cooking Demo Highlight 

Last month, Esteban Salinas hosted a cooking demo at the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, preparing Oldways Three Sisters Tacos and his own Mexican pesto sauce with cilantro, almonds, and Cotija cheese. If you’re following the Hispanic Heritage Month calendar, check Instagram to see the recipes and video highlights from this delicious session!

• Library Instagram: @clcfreemanlibrary
• HCPL Instagram: @harriscountypl

Learn More About the Latin American Heritage Diet

The Latin American Heritage Diet reflects the rich culinary traditions across Latin America. It emphasizes flavorful, affordable, and easy-to-prepare foods like maize, potatoes, peanuts, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables. This diet is not only culturally nourishing but also supports health and wellness for all Americans.

Learn more about the diet here.

Recipes & Resources

Bring the flavors of Latin America into your kitchen with Oldways’ recipe collection and curriculum resources:

• A Taste of Latin American Heritage – Teacher Training & Curriculum
• Complimentary ATOLAH Demo Kit 
• Video: What is A Taste of Latin American Heritage?
• Virtual Training: A Taste of Latin American Heritage 

Follow us on Instagram at @Oldways_PT and @oldways_atasteofheritage for recipe demos, informational videos, and highlights from our celebrations.

Spread the Word!

Celebrate with us online by sharing Oldways’ Hispanic Heritage Month graphics, recipes, and calendar. Help us amplify the rich heritage and flavors of Latin America across your social networks!

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!