A tortilla bakery in the heart of Leamington

Jake Neufeld didn't mean to get into the tortilla business.

He's a Mexican Mennonite who has been in Canada for nearly 20 years. During a visit back to Mexico nine years ago, Neufeld received a call from his son in Leamington.

"He said he'd like to buy a tortilla machine. So I bought it there," he said.

But his son decided it was too much work, leaving Neufeld with the machine.

He then started his business, Tortilla Leamington, and has been making the popular flatbread for customers ever since.

Corn, not wheat

Tortilla Leamington makes only corn tortillas. This is different than what many Canadians are used to — wheat tortillas are much more common here. In Mexico, while both types are available, corn is king.

Neufeld's tortillas come in two different sizes. The small size is about about 10 centimetres in diameter, while the more popular regular size is about 16 centimetres across. White and yellow corn varieties are produced, with white being the standard offering. 

Tortilla Leamington uses corn flour from a mill in Indiana owned by a Mexican company that specializes in tortilla flour. Neulfeld says he tried using flour made a little closer to home, but wasn't happy with the results.

The loud metal tortilla maker dominates the small room, full of chains, conveyor belts and other moving parts. Once the corn dough is put into the hopper, the machine takes care of the rest.

Pieces of the dough are flattened into the desired size. It's then placed on a conveyor belt that runs through an oven, where the tortillas are baked.

To see the machine in action, click the video above.

By the time the tortillas make it to the employees stationed at the end, they're cool enough to be handled and packaged. The machine makes about 85 kilograms of tortillas an hour, or about 3,400 individual pieces.

Who's buying them?

A diverse group of people are buying Neufeld's corn tortillas, the largest being Mexican migrant workers living in the Leamington area.

In addition to selling at the bakery itself, Tortilla Leamington also ships their product to a number of communities in Ontario, such as Aylmer and Cambridge. They even ship an order to Manitoba a few times a year. 

When purchased fresh, the tortillas last about three weeks in the refrigerator.

Want to purchase fresh corn tortillas?

Even though Neufeld ships to a number of communities in Ontario, Windsor is not one of them. Like all bread, tortillas are best fresh — so it is worth the drive.

Tortilla Leamington is located at 69 Erie St. N. in Leamington. They're open every day except Sunday.

A kilogram — roughly 40 pieces — of regular white corn tortillas sells for $2.50.