These food colorings are totally natural. Trust me.
I received my first alegrías from a semi-regular taxi driver that I took a liking to because a) he knew an efficient route from my work to my house, b) his car doesn’t stink, c) his car doesn’t have stink covered up with crappy air-freshener, and d) I can understand maybe 70% of his Spanish. Carlos was supposed to pick me up one day, but after waiting ~30 minutes on the street with a dead cell phone, I returned to my office & called back to discover he was stuck in traffic somewhere & would not arrive in the forseeable future. Boo.
However, given the horrors of traffic here, I magnanimously decided to give him a second chance. He showed his appreciation through a gift of alegrías awaiting me in the taxi. And as you can see in the photo, they did indeed elicit happiness.
P.S. For any of my local readers, please feel free to correct me on any of the various likely-inaccurate facts mentioned above. 
on Dec 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I regret to tell you that those are not alegrías. I don’t know their name, although I see them everywhere.
These are alegrías:http://www.cca.org.mx/ec/cursos/ad057/contenido/imagenes/amaranto/alegrias2.jpg
You might like to add Mexico Cooks! to your blog roll. Let me know if you do.
Thanks!
Cristina
on Jan 18th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hi Cristina!
Thanks for the note; yes, I have been meaning to make an update after I learned from a market vendor their true name…. but of course I promptly forgot it.
These will be identified before I leave Mexico City!!
on Feb 5th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
The name of these snack-candy (dulce mexicano) is named Pepitorias, and are made of obleas, the honey substance (sugar or cajeta) and the pumpkin seeds.
Here you can see how theme are made http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/fondita/html/cuca/dulces/15.htm
The obleas are made of flour and water.
on Feb 6th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Hey Liz! Thanks for solving the mystery!!
Love the how-to website as well!