Well it's that time of year again to buy & enjoy tamales during the holiday season. For us, tamales are hors d'oeuvres not usually the main entree. We'll buy a few dozens to take to friends houses, break out at home as a snack or give some away as a gift. So when did the prices hit $15 a dozen? I've bought some for as low as $8/dz & some as high as $15/dz. We've bought homemade & store made. We usually get the threat of "order now if you want any". I've been very disappointed in some of those expensive ones. I don't expect a tamale to be a burrito, but I do like to get my money's worth. As a kid growing up in SA, I remember buying a dozen for $3 & they weren't loaded with meat, but they were greasy & delicious - the perfect messy finger food!

Okay semi-rant over....

They have been closer to the $12-$15/dozen around me for a handful of years.

You can forget about finding a good tamale nowadays unless you're really good friends with a Hispanic family that's keeping the holiday tradition alive.

Have you ever made tamales?

If you want it done right, you've gotta do it yourself.

We make our own, anywhere from 60-100 dozen a year. It's a labor of love. I make a full meal out of a dozen, or a half dozen and a couple fried eggs.

take a deep breath and pour yourself a lil' bourbon

I love me some tamales !

there's this thing going on.... (due to our gubbermint printing eight trillion bogus dollars) called inflation....

if they don't quit, tamales will be $30 next year.

This.
I made 10 dozen a out 5 years ago out deer scraps. Took this gringo two days to make them. I'm talking six hours in the kitchen, two days in a row.

The worst I ever had were wonderful.

Everybody starts somewhere. It takes practice, and is a team effort if making more than a few dozen. It's amazing how many you can make with experienced help.

Everybody starts somewhere. It takes practice, and is a team effort if making more than a few dozen. It's amazing how many you can make with experienced help.[/quote]


We made 30 dozen once. Six people and lotsa beer.

Man the tamales from 20 years ago around SA were WAY better than any of the BS they have now. Only thing I have had that comes even close to the ones we bought for $3/dozen as a kid are the ones this gringo made himself.

That said, after making some I wouldn't do it to sell them for $50 a dozen. Ive seen some little old ladies that can spread masa on a corn husk with the flick of a wrist perfect every time.... it is an art!

Love tamales...I can make a whole lot for $15 - several dozen with a little time and effort.

I like the way you think...

I hope you don't go to the grocery or gas pump anytime soon if you think Tamales are high

Rosa's tamales are worth every penny and a great reason not to attempt to make them yourself...but they are not cheap.

Seriously, good luck and I hope you find some good ones...we bought a few dozen from a lady my wife used to work with that makes them herself, they were $15 a dzn but good enough I'll pay that for hers.

The problem nowadays is that a lot of places are using tamale machines instead of making them by hand like they used to. There is a tamale business here that used to make and sell the best tamales anywhere for $5-$6/dozen. BIG tamales, thin masa, full of meat. Their business grew and then they bought a tamale machine, all down hill from there. Masa waaaaay too thick, thin and inconsistent meat for $12-$14/dozen. Apparently, regardless of how you adjust the machine it's just not the same as making them by hand.

Have you not heard of inflation whetto?

I never have but I keep threatening to. The response I usually get is you're crazy. I hear you can get the masa pre-mixed like dough. I don't have a big roaster oven. I guess there are some good meat spicing recipes around. I did try to make some flour tortilla from scratch one time & they came out shaped like footballs & tasted like cardboard.

I am making my own this year. I use to make them with my mom when she was alive. It is alot of hard work but the satisfaction is well worth it. I am not going to get crazy. Just making maybe 5 dozen if that and calling it good.

My wife called on Saturday to tell me there was a Mexican food trailer on the FM highway around the corner from us. I told her I was afraid it could be old food since it was literally on a FM road vs. a corner in town. She said there were two tables out front that both had Mexicans there for lunch.

She brought home a few items including tamales. I didn't ask what they cost. They were by far the best tamales I can remember. We will be back!

Spent 35 years in Hell Paso. You can find some absolutely awesome tamales there.
Dona Lupitas handmade are some of the best Tameles and Carnitas you'll ever eat hands down. $ 15 bucks a dozen and after 2 or 3 your ready for your food coma.
Also have you ever seen the amount of WORK that goes into Tamele making? Its insane.

Tamales suck.

take the husk off.