¡Hola amigos! This week, the IMF warns Mexico to rein in debt, corn producers are calling for a ban on all white corn imports, and government officials expect Buen Fin to hit record sales.

Plus, why the peso just got stronger, what to do if your residency card goes missing, and the fascinating history behind Mexico’s café de olla.

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❓México Trivia

What Mexican town has been eating a Cornish miners’ snack for 200 years — and even celebrates it with an annual festival?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Qué Paso

🛍️ Mexico’s Economy Ministry projects sales above 200 billion pesos during Buen Fin 2025 (Nov. 13–17), up 15% from last year. The event will also debut the official “Hecho en México” label with participation from industry, small businesses, and major retailers.

🌽 Corn producers are demanding government action to prevent the collapse of agriculture in Mexico. They warn that despite a ban on planting genetically modified corn, imports continue, creating oversupply. Farmers are calling for a full prohibition on white corn imports, financial support if buyers fail to pay a fair price, and a direct meeting with President Sheinbaum.

✈️ Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico will invest 2.8 billion pesos to modernize Guanajuato International Airport (BJX) through 2029. The investment will expand lounges/hold areas, checkpoints, baggage claim, and boarding gates, plus a 58% larger aircraft platform.

💹 The IMF expects Mexico’s economy to slow in 2025, with GDP growth at 1.0%, before edging up to 1.5% in 2026. It urged Mexico to cut deficits and debt, warning the ratio could hit 61.5% of GDP by 2030 under current policies.

🤝 Mexico and Canada launched a new three-year strategic partnership during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Mexico City – the first by a Canadian leader in eight years. The plan covers trade, climate, and mobility, but also ramps up joint action on drug trafficking, money laundering, and cybersecurity.

✈️ After nearly six years, direct flights from the UK to Cancún are back. Virgin Atlantic will relaunch its London–Cancún route on Oct. 19, 2025.

🫑 Japan has finally authorized imports of fresh Mexican bell peppers (only took 16 years). Published Sept. 17 in Japan’s Official Gazette, the decision followed studies showing Mexico’s crops aren’t vulnerable to tobacco blue mold. The new access opens a market for growers who currently send 96% of exports to the U.S.

🐄 Mexico activated emergency controls after a new screwworm case in Nuevo León. Officials say it’s isolated, but the U.S. is keeping its suspension on cattle, bison, and horse imports in place.

🏫 UNAM’s CCH Sur campus in Coyoacán, Mexico City, suspended classes until further notice after a student was fatally stabbed by another inside the school on Monday. The attacker also injured a staff member and is now in police custody.

⛵ The Mexican Navy’s tall ship Cuauhtémoc, which struck the Brooklyn Bridge in May and killed two crew members, has been repaired and cleared to sail again. On Saturday, Mexico’s Navy Ministry said the training vessel is back at Pier 86 in Manhattan, ready to resume its goodwill missions abroad.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Emergency Services in Mexico: Realities and Gaps

If you dial 911 in Mexico, will help arrive the same way it does back home? The answer: yes…and no.

The unified emergency number works nationwide, but response times, ambulance availability, and even whether the service is public or private vary by region. In rural areas, resources are thinner: slower arrivals, fewer ambulances, and more reliance on local clinics.

Knowing how the system really works before you need it can make all the difference. Read more. 

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🏠 Real Estate Roundup

The Peso Just Got Stronger: What It Means for Property Buyers

Last week, the Mexican peso surged to its strongest position against the U.S. dollar in more than a year.

The upswing followed the U.S. Federal Reserve’s first rate cut of 2025, lowering its benchmark to 4% - 4.25%, while Mexico’s stands at 7.75%. That wider gap has made peso-denominated investments more attractive to global investors.

And in 2025 alone, the peso has appreciated 14% against the U.S. dollar.

For foreigners buying or building property in Mexico, this dramatic currency shift could cost you thousands more than expected.

Find out what else is driving the peso’s rally, why it matters for homebuyers, and the steps you can take to stay ahead. Read it in full here.

📍Immigration Essentials

What to Do If You Lose Your Mexican Residency Card

Losing your residency card in Mexico isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s something you’ll need to handle quickly and correctly to avoid complications.

Whether it was lost, stolen, or damaged, the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) has a specific process for getting a replacement, and acting fast can save you from unnecessary headaches.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You must start the replacement process with INM by submitting an online application, gathering the required documents, and booking an appointment.

• If your card was lost or stolen in Mexico, you’ll need to make a formal statement at an INM office.

• If you lost it while outside Mexico, you must book an appointment at a Mexican consulate or embassy to obtain a replacement visa before re-entering the country.

• Replacement isn’t free — fees vary depending on your residency type.

• Processing takes time, so act quickly and track your application online.

Acting fast ensures your residency status stays intact, avoids unnecessary fines, and keeps you from running into trouble at airports or government offices.

Click here for fees and more details.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Coffee That Fueled a Revolution

Last week we shouted “¡Viva México!” for Independence. This week, we’re trading fireworks for field rations and uncovering the Revolutionary pick-me-up that kept fighters moving…

Café de olla.

During the long nights of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), one thing was guaranteed to warm the hearts and bellies of tired fighters: a soldadera serving a steaming clay pot of sweet coffee.

Café de olla (coffee from the pot) took shape in the war camps, prepared by the women who followed and supported the revolutionary armies. These women, known as soldaderas or Adelitas, served as camp attendants, officers, and even foot soldiers.

Their role in brewing café de olla helped cement the drink as more than a caffeine fix – it became a symbol of resistance, care, and strength in the middle of battle.

Over open fires, they brewed coffee in clay pots and added cinnamon and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). Some regional riffs folded in cloves, star anise, chocolate, or even a twist of dried orange peel. The earthenware pot didn’t just hold heat; it also lent a distinct earthy note that many people still swear by.

In fact, purists will tell you that if it’s not brewed in an olla de barro, it’s not true café de olla.

It wasn’t just comfort in a cup. Adelitas made it to fuel the fighters, and legend has it that even Zapata’s army relied on the brew to keep going.

Like many Mexican traditions, it blended the old with the new.

Long before coffee arrived in the 1700s – first through Cuba into Veracruz and later spread by European planters – Mexico already loved hot, spiced drinks. Atole and pinole, made from corn, cacao, and spices, offered warmth and nutrition long before coffee.

Café de olla carried that tradition forward, becoming the Revolution’s pick-me-up and eventually, a national classic.

🪷 Viva Wellness

From Stomach Pain to Bad Vibes: Meet Ruda

Part healer, part protector, ruda (Mexican rue) is a pungent herb with potent healing properties. 

Used by traditional healers for everything from easing stomach cramps to sweeping away malas vibras (bad vibes), it’s the ultimate multipurpose medicine of natural remedies.

For women's health, it's widely used to regulate menstrual cycles and ease painful cramps. 

It's also a trusted remedy for digestive issues, including stomach pain, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites. Additionally, it can boost circulation to help with varicose veins and is applied topically to reduce swelling, toothaches, and muscle pain.

It’s most commonly prepared as a tea using the fresh or dried leaves. 

When cooled, it can be dabbed directly on skin to eliminate lice, scabies, athlete's foot, and dermatitis. Some practitioners also create tinctures and poultices for concentrated healing. Just make sure to avoid sun exposure after applying –  rue can make skin photosensitive.

Beyond medicinal uses, ruda is also considered a protective plant. Many people hang dried bundles in their homes to shield against envy and negative energy.  It's frequently incorporated into limpias (spiritual cleansings) and various purification rituals. 

Cuidado: this potent herb requires care when using. Pregnant women should avoid it completely to avoid miscarriage. And little goes a long way. The right dose can vary depending on your age, health, and how it’s being used. You should always check with a trusted herbalist or healthcare provider before taking it. 

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

🏁 La Carrera Panamericana – October 9–16, Across Mexico 
Now in its 38th edition and marking 75 years since the first race, La Carrera Panamericana runs eight days on closed public roads, covering just over 4,000 km across Mexico. The 2025 route: Tuxtla Gutiérrez → Oaxaca → Puebla → Mexico City → Querétaro → Morelia → Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas. Check stage maps and the official schedule for exact viewing spots and times. More info here.

🎭 Festival Internacional Cervantino – October 10–26, Guanajuato City
The “Fiesta del Espíritu” returns for its 53rd edition, transforming Guanajuato into a world stage with 140 shows and 3,400 artists from 31 countries. This year’s guests of honor are the United Kingdom and Veracruz, bringing everything from punk and pop to son jarocho, marimbas, and danzones. More info here.

🍷 IV Festival Vino Sin Fronteras – October 11, Club Campestre, Tijuana
Raise a glass at one of Baja’s top wine celebrations as more than 40 regional wineries and 30 restaurants come together for tastings, food pairings, and live music. This year’s guest region is Paso Robles, California, bringing a cross-border flavor to the heart of Tijuana. More info here.

🍴 Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica 2025 – October 12–19, Paradise Village, Nuevo Vallarta 
Now in its 17th year, Vallarta Nayarit Gastronómica returns with a week of world-class food experiences on the shores of Banderas Bay. Hosted at Paradise Village Resort & Spa, the event features Michelin-star chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, and culinary innovators from Mexico and abroad. More info here.

⛪ Romería de la Virgen de Zapopan – October 12, Zapopan, Jalisco 
Every October, over two million pilgrims accompany La Generala from Guadalajara’s Metropolitan Cathedral to the Basilica of Zapopan. This procession, filled with songs, flowers, and pre-Hispanic dances, is Mexico’s third most important pilgrimage after Guadalupe and San Juan de los Lagos. Declared UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Romería is devotion and spectacle, when schools close, streets empty, and Jalisco gathers to honor its patroness. More info here.

🎸 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta – October 24 & 25, San Felipe, Baja California
Back for its 20th anniversary, this iconic beachside fiesta fuses live blues music with vibrant local art…all for a good cause. Hosted by the San Felipe Lions Club, the event supports everything from orphanages and cataract surgeries to fire departments and elder care. Tickets are available with a donation and every peso goes back into the community. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Llevar vs. Tomar

Here’s a classic mix-up: both words translate as “to take,” but they’re not interchangeable.

Llevar means to carry or take an object or a person with you somewhere from point A to B.
Voy a llevar a mi perro al veterinario. (I’m taking my dog to the vet.)

Tomar means to take – as in to take something. It’s used for taking transportation, medicine, or classes.
Vamos a tomar el camión a Oaxaca. (We’re taking the bus to Oaxaca.)

Think of it this way: You take a pill or a taxi, but you carry your groceries or your kids. 

Need Health Insurance in Mexico?

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Real del Monte, Hidalgo.

In 1824, a group of Cornish miners arrived to revive Mexico’s silver industry, bringing with them steam-engine technology, football, Methodism — and a hearty hand pie from Cornwall called the pasty. Designed for long shifts underground, the pastry’s crimped edge made it easy to hold with sooty hands and discard after eating.

In Hidalgo, locals adopted the dish and began filling it with regional flavors like beans with chorizo, mole chicken, rajas with cheese, and sweet cajeta or pineapple. Over time, the Cornish pasty became the Mexican paste, now a beloved emblem of Hidalgo’s identity. Watch the story behind Mexico’s paste tradition.

Want to taste history? Don’t miss the 17th International Paste Festival, October 10–12 in Real del Monte.

Why El Expat Insider Mexico? Life abroad isn’t just about relocating — it’s about reinventing. Every sunrise in Mexico brings new opportunities to explore, learn, and connect. Whether you’re here for a season or a lifetime, we’re your compass for making the most of every moment. Because life’s too short to live on autopilot.

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