This is not a candy: where to nab Tajín in 5 Chicago neighborhoods

As temperatures ratchet up, so does fruit consumption, from locally-grown blackberries to watermelon from trucks in Rogers Park. Summer’s berry-heavy menu might get monotonous if not for Tajín, a powdered, Mexican spice mix that rounds out fruit flavors. Its blend of chili flakes, dehydrated lime juice, and salt accentuates more than produce—it also enhances atypical choices like pizza and pasta. The spice, tartness, and salt give everything that addictive, junk-food quality without actually clogging arteries, Still, most chain groceries don’t sell this versatile wonder. That in mind, The A.V. Club set out to find Tajín in five Chicago neighborhoods and discover new food pairings that can be purchased at each stop.

Pilsen: Only a few blocks from the Pink Line stop at 18th, the absurdly cheap La Casa del Pueblo seems like five stores in one. It reps every conceivable hemisphere, restricted diets, and vegan post-grads that like bottled kombucha. Find the Tajín in an endcap immediately to the right of the Lala yogurt display; 5-ounce bottles sell for $1.50.
Recommended pairing: Salted plantain chips go for a scant $1.56. The lime flavor brightens an otherwise heavy food, and while the Tajín doesn’t easily stick to the chips, the extra salt makes the combination well worth the effort.

Lincoln Square: HarvesTime’s selection is on par with chain grocers like Jewel and Dominick’s, except with more international brands, including an entire aisle dedicated to “imported cookies and sweets.” Tajín takes up its own wooden rack at the end of aisle 3, where the original flavor sells for $1.99, and the spicier habanero variety sells for $2.99.
Recommended pairing: Tajín’s tri-colored label reads, “This is not a candy,” but that’s not the final word. HarvesTime sells pre-packed boxes of chocolate-covered pretzels that sell for under $3. Stamp melty pretzels into a coating of Tajín for a spicy, sour, and sweet indulgence that tastes like a carnival concession.

Uptown: The giant Wilson Yard Target spans two stories, with a grocery section that’s large by Target standards, but small by any others. Tajín sells for $2.99, sitting in a section with Asian-style hot sauces and bags of rice.
Recommended pairing: On hot days, nothing refreshes the palate quite like citrus and a swig of beer. Rim a frosted glass with Tajín, and fill it with a brew like Blue Moon; it costs $8.49 for a six-pack. The salt highlights the beer’s sweetness, the chili makes it interesting, and the added lime tastes like summer.

Wicker Park: A few blocks north of the Division blue line stop, Carnicerías Guanajuato trends heavily toward Mexican brands. The store’s signage is mostly in Spanish; pale, jawbreaker-sized guavas crowd a bin in the produce section. Bottles of Tajín sell for $1.99, sitting on the endcap of an aisle with Nesquik, canned fish, and gelatin.
Recommended pairing: El Pipila’s Botana Mix/Snack Mix (sold for less than $2) offers a semi-conventional, fruity accompaniment. The blend of dried mango, raisins, banana chips, and almonds comes in a tiny bag, the perfect size and shape for acting as a Tajín shaker. The fruit’s sweetness mixes well with the tart lime and the salt, predictably, tastes fantastic with the almonds.

Logan Square: Sunrise Fresh Market is a basic community grocery store with middling selection and uncommonly clean floors. The Tajín couches in an aisle with other spices and canned sauce; it sells for $1.99.
Recommended pairing: Tiny, plastic pods of Sabra hummus come packaged with a handful of pretzels for under $3. Tajín’s bright, salty taste cuts the heaviness of the fatty dip, and makes the starchy chickpeas taste less bland.