Anna - I checked with the buyer who heads up our deli products, which includes the pre-packaged tamales and the previous tamales were not a specific name brand, they were a Central Market Own Brand product that we changed to the newest recipes and flavor set. Sorry that you didn't enjoy the bean and cheese that you did try. Do know that our commitment is that no sale is ever final. So please call the store and let them know your concerns and as a customer not close to a store, they will do what works for you to make it right. Store phone numbers can be found on our website here - http://www.centralmarket.com/location.aspx

What was the brand name of the cream cheese and jalopeno tamales? I just tried the bean and cheese of the new brand being carried, i too did not care for them. I also paid $10.99 for the 8 count which thought was too much to begin with. It has been 6-9 month since i last shopped at Central Market, since there is not one convient on my way home from work or over by where i live. I made a trip to Central Market specifically for the cream cheese and jalopeno tameles. I was disappointed not finding them. I did try the new brand after inquiring about old the ones i was looking for. I did not like them... Please let me know what the brand name of the previous tamales. Thank you

We serve tamales with our black eyed peas every New Year's Day to a minimum of 20 people and quite often many more than that. We always thought the best were from c. m. but i was in the store for my yearly buy and i think that was 2011, they had totally changed. One of your employees told me that they had begin buying them in a place on hwy 26 somewhere and that they were so much better and that that was why you changed. So thinking man if they are better i cant imagine that but even tho they are smaller more expensive and less in the pkg. i bought my usual cart full. They were awful ! They cannot Compare with those wonderful ones we used to get there. So last year for the first time since i can remember we had to find an alternate place to get them for our celebration. none are as good as the old ones we used to get in the rotisserie area there.. None as bad as those you switched to.....my opinion of course. But having searched for the perfect tamale all over texas i do think im a pretty good judge. Thank you, sherry darnell

I was told at HEB in Boerne that the the Central Market tamales I'd been buying had been replaced by "Chef Prepared" packs of 5 huge tamales or the "Molina style" packs of 12. If not true, I'm pretty unhappy. I asked fr Central Market & had seen them there in the past. Can I return unopened packs?

The Chicken Tomatillo tamales were delicious and fresh tasting.

Are the tamales gluten free?

Had a unique combination near the coast from Grandma's.. Cream cheese and Jalapeno. Outstanding. Give them a try! Guarenteed to please your customers.

Terri Comment is 100% Correct: The packages of tamales available in the Chef Prepared/Rotisserie area, Yes, have changed and only come in 8 packs now. Yes, they decreased the size from previous year (2011-2012) but kept the price at $8.99. Thats why we also dont buy our Tamales at CM anymore either. Dont know why the Global Administrator is not admitting or aware of this. They should know better, otherwise there is a perception of being sneaky. Our Family loves CM but this issue should have never occurred. Thank you.

Does anyone know the nutritional content of the tamales?

Terri - I really appreciate your comment and wanted to clarify a few things for you. The tamales that I wrote the blog about are new and available in the deli section. You are correct that they are packs of 8 and the price point reflects a desire to try new and unique flavors. Although these tamales are new, the tamales that have always been available in the Chef Prepared/Rotisserie area have not changed. They are still packed as 12 and are all the flavors that you should recognize. In no way were we trying to be "sneaky" we just wanted to give you and other customers a new option when shopping with us. Thanks again for your comment.

To the person that posted above: The packages of tamales only come in 8 packs now. I think that they decreased the size from last year but kept the price at $8.99 to increase their profit. When I discovered that, I decided that I had to quit buying them here no matter how good they are.. At almost $1.22 per tamale after tax I decided it was too much, and I didn't appreciate the sneaky way it was done. I had been buying them for years and the last time I purchased them and got them home there was not enough to feed my family and our guests because I had been, in my opinion, short changed 4 tamales per package. I realize I should have read the package, but when you have been buying something for years you just don't expect a change like that.

Ladies - thank you so much for the comments, we will pass the suggestion on to the team and see if there is a way to make a "tasting" package available, so you are able to try all the new flavors.

I totally agree with Nancy Russell. You should do a taster package with two of each of the six flavors. Gives people the chance to try all six flavors and then afterwards they can decide which flavors they like best and purchase then purchase them by the dozen.

Since you have 6 new flavors, I would love to try them all as tamales are one of my most favorite foods and I make tamale dressing for the Christmas holidays. Since you have 6 new flavors, it would be nice if you put 2 of each in one package so people could try them all instead of having to buy a whole dozen of each. You could do this just for awhile so people could decide which ones they prefer and then go back to packaging all of one kind. I just hate it when I buy a whole package of something new and I don't like it well enough to eat all of it and end up throwing the rest of it out. By the way, I love your tamales, and it's nice to see someone go "outside the box."