Hot pepper in Mexico that comes in thousands of varieties. The foundation of all Mexican cuisine and the ingredient that makes you sweat but you can never quit.

A group of neighborhood friends or an organized street gang, depending on context. It can be innocent among kids or dangerous when talking about real pandillas.

In Colombia and Central America, someone brave, bold, highly competent, or who stands out for their skill. It's a strong genuine compliment for anyone who shows they can handle anything thrown at them.

A plot of land where corn, beans, and squash are cultivated together in Mexico and Central America. It's the ancestral Mesoamerican agricultural system that fed entire civilizations and is still alive in rural areas.