Rocio Preciado

Minerva Orduño Rincón (center right) teaches tamale making.

There’s a corn shortage in Mexico. And, as the Arizona Daily Star reported recently, it’s hampering an all-important Mexican Christmas tradition: tamales.

The Star talked to tamale makers and sellers in Tucson who say they can’t get enough of the Mexican-grown corn they use in green corn tamales, and when they can get it, it’s often much more expensive than it used to be.

The problem is drought south of the border, but as Minerva Orduño Rincón explained, tamales aren’t the only Christmas food tradition from Sonora.

Orduño Rincón is an expert in Sonoran cuisine, documenting its history, making it and eating it.

The Show caught up with her recently to talk all things tamales and to learn about Sonoran Christmas traditions.

Minerva Orduño Rincón

Minerva Orduño Rincón’s tamales

More Stories From KJZZ

• Forget Starbucks — many Mormons are treating themselves with 'dirty sodas'
• Señor Rio Tequila: Made in Arizona