Finding Masa (or Dent Corn)

[opporna]

I'd really like to find a reliable source of masa. I'd settle for a source of Dent corn to make my own masa.

 

Makro Pattaya used to carry masa from El Charro (http://elcharromexthai.igetweb.com/) but that has disappeared along with the quacamole and refried beans they used to carry. They still have El Charro tortillas, however.

 

I can order direct from El Charro, but I must get a ten-kilo box*, which is just too much for my freezer. In addition, the El Charro masa was not easy to work with--too granular. I actually prefer powdered masa, though fresh masa (or making my own from dent corn) would be ideal.

 

Any ideas on how to get a regular source would be appreciated.

 

There is a thread already on masa, but it's in the Chiang Mai forum. I've made a new thread here as this is I believe of interest to people throughout Thailand.

 

*on the website it says a five-kilo box, but direct email dealing with them, they say it's sold in ten-kilo batches.

 

 

[Monomial]

Can you tell me what is the price of a 10kg box for El Charro?  Danitas wants 1300 baht for 10kg of flour tortillas, which I find just extortionate given how cheap flour tortillas are to make.  The components are all locally sourced. Nothing needs to be imported.

 

I am looking for a cost effective source of flour tortillas, or at least an explanation of why they are so expensive in Thailand. Maybe there are hidden costs I don't know about? I can make them myself for 30 baht/kg, but I can't get the quality control of an industrial process. I'd be willing to pay more for a good product, but 100 baht more is just ridiculous.

 

 

[opporna]

Look on their website.

[tutsiwarrior]

gotta remember that masa has limestone as an essential ingredient...cornmeal ain't enough...

 

saw some dudes selling limestone once in a market in Guatemala and when I asked what it was for they frowned and just said: para las tortillas...and I thought: hmmm...

[opporna]

You can get lime quite easily. Someone on Thaivisa mentioned using the red paste that they chew with betel nuts. Ash from wood fires works as well.

[tutsiwarrior]

very interesting to note that lime (wood ash in this case) is required to release the active ingredient when coca leaves are chewed by indigenous andeans...