Chatted with a tamale lady at the Boyle Heights farmers market last Sunday

She said she pre-orders her masa from a specific mill in Pico Rivera because the moisture content is always consistent, and that made me realize I've been treating ingredient sourcing like an afterthought, so what do you look for when picking a supplier?

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3 Comments

the_simon5mo ago

Consistency like that is worth paying extra for every time.

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henry1015mo ago

Ha, I gotta laugh because I'm the guy who always tries to save a few bucks and then ends up kicking myself later. I bought the cheap version of something just last week and it's already falling apart, so yeah, I paid the idiot tax again. You're totally right though, when you find something that works the same way every single time, that peace of mind is probably worth more than the extra money in the long run. Maybe someday I'll learn my lesson, but my wallet is stubborn and my patience is thin.

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andrew9164mo ago

You mentioned "consistency like that is worth paying extra for every time" and that really hits home for me. I've been burned so many times by going with the cheaper option only to have it fail right when I needed it most. There is something about knowing exactly what you are going to get that takes a weight off your shoulders. It is not just about the product either, it is about not having to waste time dealing with returns or fixes or figuring out something new. That extra cost upfront pays for itself in the long run when you factor in all the headaches and lost time you avoid. I wish more people understood that.

1