Our tamales are made with stone-ground maseca (corn flour), which is naturally gluten free. However, they are produced in a facility that also handles wheat products, so we cannot guarantee they are free from trace amounts of gluten. If you have celiac disease or a severe gluten sensitivity, please consult your doctor before ordering.

Our tamales will keep in your freezer for up to 6 months at 0°F without significant quality loss. For best flavor and texture, we recommend enjoying them within 3 months. Once thawed, consume within 5 days and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Yes! We ship our frozen tamales to most U.S. addresses via UPS, packed on dry ice to ensure they arrive frozen solid. Frozen orders ship on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so they arrive before the weekend. Orders placed after Monday may be held until the following week. Please note we cannot ship frozen products to PO Boxes — a physical street address is required.

As a main course, plan on 3–4 tamales per person. As part of a larger meal (with sides like rice, beans, stew, or salad), 2–3 per person is usually plenty. Our tamales come in bags of 12, so one bag comfortably serves 3–4 people as a main dish. For holidays and parties, we recommend the Tamale Trio Sampler (36 tamales, all three varieties) which serves 9–12 guests.

While they share the same heritage, New Mexican tamales have distinct characteristics. Traditional Mexican tamales are typically wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and use dried chiles like guajillo and ancho in their fillings. Our New Mexican-style tamales feature Hatch Chile as the primary flavor — roasted green chile or slow-cooked red chile sauce — and are wrapped in paper casings for easier serving. The masa is lighter and fluffier, letting the unique flavor of Hatch Chile take center stage.

Absolutely — tamales are a cherished New Mexican holiday tradition. We recommend ordering early in December as demand is high and inventory can sell out. Our tamales freeze beautifully, so ordering a week or two ahead and keeping them in the freezer until your holiday meal is a great strategy. Many customers order the Tamale Trio Sampler for holiday gatherings so guests can try all three varieties.

All of our frozen products qualify for volume discounts: get 20% off when you buy 2, 25% off when you buy 3, or build a bundle box of 4 or more items for up to 30% off. You can mix and match any frozen products — tamales, rellenos, chimichangas, and stew all qualify.

A tamalada is a tamale-making party — a tradition across New Mexico and the broader Southwest, especially during the holidays. Families and friends gather to make large batches of tamales together assembly-line style: spreading masa, filling, folding, and steaming. It's as much about the community and conversation as the food itself. If you'd rather skip the all-day effort but still enjoy the tradition, our ready-to-heat tamales are the shortcut.