Latin American history and folklore take center stage as the final second season of HBO Max’s “Like Water for Chocolate” begins tonight.

Adapted from Laura Esquivel’s best-selling novel (also the basis of a 1992 hit movie), “Chocolate” mixes magical realism, cooking and the Mexican Revolution to tell of the forbidden romance of Tita (Azul Guaita) and Pedro (Andres Baida).

They are fiercely prevented from ever being together by Tita’s mother. S1 ended with Mamá Elena (Irene Azuela) sending Tita to an asylum while Pedro was captured by Federal troops.

After his release, Pedro marries Tita’s sister Rosaura (Ana Valeria Becerril) to be near his beloved. And suddenly Pedro has a rival in the eligible Dr. Brown (Francisco Angelini).

As frustration rises, Tita cooks savory dishes that reflect her emotions. As her feelings become more intense, her kitchen becomes a battleground where love, loyalty, tradition collide. Salma Hayek Pinault’s production company executive produced.

“She takes control of her destiny,” Guaita said in Spanish via an interpreter during a Mexico City press conference with the cast and Julian De Tavira who directed all six episodes.

“For her to find this truth is very difficult. She has this duality of wanting to move forward and follow her heart and being rebellious.

“Since I started to play and know and decipher her,” Guaita continued, “I realize she has a lot of love inside her. I don’t mind having her in some place near my heart. I hope I pass the emotions to everyone.”

Playing Pedro, Baida reflected, fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“This is a character that from the first season brought me something I wanted to do from a long time ago, a character with a slice of heroism who at the same time was passionate, a warrior.

“I have a lot of Pedro, the story is part of me,” he said. “Pedro taught me a lot: To be responsible for your own actions. That we are human beings and make mistakes and even the major decisions can take us to a bad result.

“My character also suffers and the decisions he makes at some point the truth is, it goes one way or another. But I can’t say more!”

Playing Dr. Brown, Angelini said, offered a historical perspective. “This doctor is, at the end of the day, part of this universe that was lit so long ago. To be there and see the rules that were then gives us a taste of what life was like.

“For me Dr. Brown is a pure and nice character I’ll miss, because I learned a lot. He even helped me grow to be kinder and, I think, to be a better partner.”

The second and final season of “Like Water for Chocolate” airs Sunday. (Photo Courtesy of HBO)