The tamale (from the Nahuatl tamalli) is a food of Mesoamerican origin generally prepared from corn dough or rice stuffed with meat, vegetables, chili peppers, fruits, sauces and other ingredients. They are wrapped in vegetable leaves such as corn on the cob or banana, bijao, maguey, avocado, canak, among others and cooked in water or steamed. They can taste sweet or salty.