Customary Beverages

Alcohol

Pulque

1. 12 years of maturation before the maguey sap is extracted in vats for fermentation.
2. Mature seeds (semilla or xanaxtli) are added to start the 14 day fermentation process.
3. The fermentation process is continuous, so the pulque must be consumed within a certain time before it spoils.
   • There is no exact methodology one can otherwise used to definitely get quality pulque. Fermentors must tailor their technique every time they brew a cast.
   • Temperature, humidity and the quality of the sap affect the final drink.

Octli

Gruel

Ātōle

1. Boil water and salt in a pot with a lid.
2. Mix maize meal with cold water.
3. Leave to soak overnight to reduce cooking time.
4. Stir into the boiling water.
5. Simmer for a short time with the lid on.
6. Add a dollop of animal or avocado fats.
7. Serve with milk or honey.

Chilacacahuatl

1. Stir roasting green cocao beans over an open fire until most of them 'pop'.
2. Peel as quickly as possible while still hot.
3. Grind the beans with a pestle and mortar.
4. Spread the paste and have them rest overnight till they are hard.
5. Pulverize them to a power.
6. Add some chilli water.
7. Boil and stir the mixture constantly.
8. When it starts to bubble, quickly remove the pan and allow to cool slightly.
9. Place back on the flame and continue to stir to the boil again.
10. Repeat the cooling and re-boiling until a persistent reddish foaming settles over the liquid.

Luxury Treats

Tlaquetzalli

1. Mix hot or tepid water with toasted and ground or green tender cacao beans, maize and any number of flavor:
   • honeyed chocolate made with ground-up dried flowers and green vanilla pods
   • bright red chocolate
   • orange-colored chocolate
   • rose-colored chocolate
   • black chocolate
   • white chocolate
2. Then, altogether, mixed and beaten with a beating stick or preferably aerated by pouring the chocolate from one vessel to another.
3. This produces a rich head of foam which should be set aside and the drink further aerated to produce another head, which was also set aside and then placed on top of the drink along with the rest of the foam before serving.

Cacahuatl