The nopal cactus is a Mexican plant of the cactus family. It is also commonly known as palera or prickly pear. The nopales are fleshy, arboreal plants whose stems are flat, oblong, of medium green color and provided with two kinds of thorns, some long and hard, and others short and thin.

They are found from the north to the center of the country and reach their greatest complexity and richness in the central Altiplano.

Thanks to its high content of pectins and soluble fiber, it can help regulate blood sugar levels, making it a suitable food for diabetics. It is very moisturizing, low in calories and, in addition, raw nopal is rich in flavonoids, so it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.