Cempasúchil flowers are native to Mexico and have long been part of our national identity. So much so, that archaeologists have discovered evidence that these flowers were used in Mesoamerica for 3,000 years.
Its name comes from the Nahuatl Cempohualxochitl, which means twenty flowers or several flowers. Our ancestors associated its bright yellow color with the sun; and by using them they believed that these flowers would guide their dead to the offerings.
However, despite being a very Mexican flower, China is currently the leading country in cempasuchil production.
Cempasuchil production is in Chinese
From 1960 to 1990, our country was a power in the production of the natural pigment that is extracted from the cempasuchil flower and is used in different industries such as poultry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
However, China displaced Mexico a few years ago and it seems that it produces three quarters of the flower worldwide; followed by India and Peru.
Unfortunately, Mexico does not appear on the list of the main producers of this flower and it is because these countries have modified their seeds in laboratories to increase the number of their flowers, among other things.
So how to identify Mexican cempasuchil flowers?
The Chinese cempasuchil is known as Marigold and although it looks similar to the Mexican one, it has some notable differences at first glance:
- The flower is much smaller.
- Usually sold in pots.
- Its color is less intense.
- The plant will die in a few days and its seeds will not germinate.
- It does not give off the characteristic aroma of this plant.
Instead, the Mexican flower has the following characteristics:
- It can reach up to 2 meters long.
- The width of the flower can be greater than 5 centimeters.
- The color is a bright reddish orange or yellow.
- It is common for it to be sold in bouquets.
You already know, when you go to buy cempasúchil flowers to mount your offering, make sure they are Mexican. In this way, you support national producers and help keep the Day of the Dead tradition alive.