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Visit just about any town in the Mississippi Delta and you are bound to see signs advertising hot tamales. Most visitors find it an odd coupling – Mississippi and tamales – but this unique relationship has a surprisingly long and happy history. And if you’re a fan of Blues music, you’ll already know that a number of the early 20th century Blues recordings pay homage to the humble tamale.
While it may be a bit difficult to really pin down just how and why the hot tamale came to be a favorite staple of the Mississippi Delta, it certainly isn’t difficult to find a place that sells them. The Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail is a documentary project put together by the Southern Foodways Alliance and the Viking Range Corporation. This project gives a history of hot tamales in the Delta and also maps out Delta tamale tasting destinations. Clarksdale has 5 tamale spots listed: Abe’s BBQ, The Ranchero, Hicks’, Ground Zero Blues Club, and Big Jim’s tamale stand! Visit the Tamale Trail website to find a complete listing of Delta tamale spots – www.tamaletrail.com.
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