It's not who you eat, it's how you prepare them.

Researchers have found evidence a cannibalistic tribe that lived in Mexico more than 2,500 years ago liked to season its human meals with chilli peppers and brightly coloured spices that stained the victims' bones.

The evidence comes from a team that studied the remains of 18 men, women and children in the ancient community of Tlatelcomila — near Mexico City.

The bones, chipped with what appeared to be cutting tools, hinted at evidence of cannibalism. When the researchers looked closer to find out why the bones were tinted red and yellow, they found evidence of a meticulous recipe that included smothering the meat in chilli spices.

The preparation method — some were grilled while others boiled — resulted in slightly different colours on the bones.

The study — called Savoury Recipes and the Colour of the Tlatelcomila Human Bones — was published in the journal Archaeometry.