LOS ANGELES — For many Latino families, the holiday season is not complete without certain flavors and aromas that bring back memories of home and heritage. 

In East Los Angeles, the Tenorio family’s Christmas tradition of ponche navideño, buñuelos and capirotada has been passed down through five generations. 

For them, these recipes are more than just festive treats — they’re a link to the past, a symbol of love and a way to connect with their roots. 

The sweet, spiced aroma of cinnamon, guava and tejocote fills the air in the Tenorio family’s restaurant's kitchen, signaling the start of a cherished holiday tradition. For five generations, the family has passed down the recipes for ponche navideño, buñuelos and capirotada — festive dishes that are as much about preserving heritage as they are about celebrating Christmas.

“It’s more than a drink,” said Eloisa López, co-owner of La Imperial Tortilleria in East Los Angeles. “It’s a connection to our ancestors, from my great grandmother, to my grandma, to my mother and now me. It’s been five generations.”

Ponche navideño, or Christmas punch, is a staple in Mexican households during the holiday season. The Tenorio family’s version includes tejocote — a small, sour orange fruit native to Mexico — guava, tamarind, piloncillo (Mexican raw brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, sugarcane and other fruits. 

But the family doesn’t stop at ponche. Every holiday season, they gather to prepare buñuelos — crispy fritters dusted with cinnamon sugar — and capirotada, a bread pudding made with bolillo bread, raisins, cheese and piloncillo syrup.

López explains that it’s not just about the food; it’s about the time they spend together. For the Tenorio’s, the process is a way to bring the family together while keeping their heritage alive.

“It’s beautiful to see my children and now my grandchildren to enjoy the same recipes that I grew up with,” López said. 

For this East Los Angeles family, the holidays are a time to honor the past while embracing the present — a reminder that traditions, like flavors, grow richer with each passing generation.