Omar Ahmed, 33, co-owner of Kernel of Truth tortilla company, counts yellow corn tortillas at their facility in Boyle Heights.
The two are pushing back against a tortilla-making process that became industrialized in the 20th century, particularly through the domination of Maseca, a producer of dehydrated tortilla flour. Soon, Ortega and Ahmed began making masa for the tortillas in a tiny space inside El Mercado de Los Angeles in Boyle Heights, calling the business Kernel of Truth. They chose the name to reflect “our mission to put integrity first” and to reach out to a larger community. They used an English name to break the stigma that all tortillerías should have a Mexican name.
Things changed when vegan Mexican restaurant Gracias Madre hired the company to make tortillas for their West Hollywood location. Word soon spread, and Ortega began selling to more than 30 of L.A.’s top Mexican restaurants, including Guerrilla Tacos, HomeState, CaCao Mexicatessen and Petty Cash Taquería.
More customers signed on, and Kernel of Truth’s business took off. Last year, the company’s revenue was half a million dollars, up from $80,000 in 2015. Revenue is expected to reach nearly $1 million this year.
latimes My Mother & my Tia Berta are tortilla goals
¡No te escondas en las sombras! ¡Libérate! Desplegar tus hermosas alas (o tortillas) y volar...buey.
latimes wes_avila
$3 a dozen? How do you think families that consume 5 dozen a day can afford that? It sounds like you’re out of touch with 70% of LA residents. We would all want to eat the best of everything but only a small group can afford that. This is a bias/elitist article.
proud
Good luck! 👍
Cool story LA Times. Imagine that...two guys from East LA know how to make taco shells. 🤔
This only shows how many people in LA now are not born and raised Angelinos! The tortilla is like bread in LA growing up we ate them with everything
I like tortillas
I can’t wait to try some next time I’m back home in LA
yesssss
to my surprise alot of people dont know how to prepare to eat them, your supposed to cook them on fire, grill, hot plate, or microwave. they are considered semi raw doug. best ask someone that has experience with them. they are very tasty.
Can we franchise here!!