SAN ANTONIO – With one month until Christmas, turkey is getting set aside for a South Texas classic: Tamales.
Tamales produced by Delicious Tamales can be found all across the country, with 3,000 to 4,000 dozen produced every day.
The business has been a staple in San Antonio since 1980. Owner Valerie Gonzalez decided she wanted to share her family recipe with everyone.
"We just had one location and we had two employees," said Gonzalez. "The tamales became very popular, and we now have seven locations all over town."
This time of year, long lines greet people trying buy tamales, but many also order ahead online.
"What happens now is that both parents work and don't have time to make tamales in the household like it used to be, the old-fashioned way," Gonzalez said.
The factory on Culebra Road is the main spot for production. Though the process is done by machine, all tamales are individually hand wrapped into the corn husks.
One thing that can't be sped up, the time it takes to cook the tamales. It takes about three-and-a-half hours to cook the delicious treat.
The menu includes seven different kinds of tamales, including traditional pork, chicken, vegetarian and a sweet tamal.
People leaving Delicious Tamales, which is open through Christmas Eve, are often seen carrying out tamales by the dozen to enjoy during the holiday season.
"It's a Hispanic tradition to begin with, but now it's across all cultures," Gonzalez said. "Everybody has tamales for the holidays."