Blowing glass at the Cristacolor glass blowing workshop in Tonalá, Jalisco; copyright-free image courtesy of "AlejandroLinaresGarcia" made available through Wikimedia Commons.

Blown glass apples from Tlalpuhajua, Michoacán at the Artisans' Day event in the Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares, Mexico City; copyright-free image courtesy of "AlejandroLinaresGarcia" made available through Wikimedia Commons.

Mercado glassware-selling stalls typically handle items produced overseas. However, there is a Mexican glassware tradition, and it is worth seeking out.

Household glassware was unknown to preconquest Mexicans. The first primitive Mexican glassware was produced in Puebla in 1542. From the early 1800's, the Ávalos Family produced fine blown-glass pieces, mainly of decorative items such as animal figurines and flower vases. Blown glass is typically produced in the colors of blue, yellow, amethyst, green, and red. Since red is obtained through a tricky technique using gold salts, red is the most expensive color.

"Señor" blowing glass at the Feria del Caballo Texcoco of 2018 in Texcoco, México state; copyright-free image courtesy of "Jorgedelavg04" made available through Wikimedia Commons.