In 1962, in the kitchen of a house in Culiacán, Sinaloa, more than just a dish was born: a culinary legend. Doña Chata, with her homemade touch and love for Mexican food, began to make a chorizo that would soon conquer local palates. That small family initiative has become Chata, a globally recognized brand.
The key to Chata’s success lies in its faithful adherence to traditional Mexican recipes and the quality of its ingredients. Each product, from the emblematic culichi chilorio to pozole and carnitas, evokes the flavors of homemade Mexican cuisine. The company has managed to cross borders, reaching the United States, Europe, Asia, and even outer space.
Chilorio, for example, a culichi recipe (demonym for Culiacán) made with pork, lard, and chili, has become Chata’s flagship dish.
“We have a variety of more than 200 products, and we are proud to say that we have everything a Mexican could want from their homeland. We started as a local company, and now we are recognized internationally,” says Carlos Machado Piña, CEO of Chata, to Abasto Magazine.
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Mexican Flavor for Any Palate
Doña Chata’s seasoning is preserved as the brand’s emblem. Mexican ingredients are used to recreate the original recipes—food just like your mom or grandma would have prepared it. That’s how Chata products taste, including pozole, menudo, cochinita pibil, carnitas, and beans, among many others.
“The taste of nostalgia, eating something like home, even if you are not in your country, was another challenge that the company managed to overcome,” continues Machado Piña.
The first international conquest, which happened naturally, was the United States. Then came Central America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
“We don’t launch any product that we are not convinced will be something that feels like you ate it in Mexico. We also show on the packaging that our products are not spicy. We use chilies that give flavor, but not heat,” details Machado Piña.
Chata products stand out for their seasoning, variety, and packaging. They were the first to implement the pouch in stews and the chorizo packaging as used by other brands.
“Trying Chata is enjoying a culinary journey through Mexico, savoring the authentic seasoning in every recipe,” says Carlos Machado Piña.
And From the World to Space
The practicality of Chata products, their flavor, and the gentleness of palates unaccustomed to chile propelled their arrival in space.
In 2021, astronaut Megan McArthur celebrated her birthday on the International Space Station with a bag of Chata chilorio. This image went around the world, making the brand a symbol of Mexican gastronomy globally.
“The quality of our product, packaging, and protein opened the door for us at NASA without even asking. We found out in documentaries and social media,” highlights Machado Piña.