Friends, my old dream came true – I visited the homeland of the Aztecs and the Mayans! Are you jealous? It’s not worth it, I’ll be happy to share my impressions with you.
A trip to Mexico could not be complete without tasting local alcohol. I decided to figure out what the inhabitants drink, and what differences the local alcoholic drinks have.
What alcohol is considered traditional in Mexico
First of all, I was interested in information about what kind of alcohol is considered national. It is known that Russians drink vodka, and Americans prefer whiskey, the French cannot imagine life without wine. What do Mexicans drink? It turned out to be tequila.
Mexicans don’t drink tequila with salt. They believe that this spoils the taste of the drink.
My Mexican friend surprised me by telling me that the drink is made not from a cactus at all, as I was sure, but from blue agave juice. By the way, this is the basis of almost all Mexican alcoholic products.
A clerk in a liquor store, in broken English, told me an interesting story related to the origin of Mexican tequila.
According to legend, the Lord sent lightning, which split the agave tree into 2 halves. After a while, the inhabitants noticed that fragrant juice was flowing from the crack. They tried it and marveled at the unusual taste.
Since that time, the Mexicans began to independently extract agave juice and prepare various drinks from it. The first masterpiece was tequila. Here it is called “octaly”.
Tourists buy tequila in gift boxes. She goes for souvenirs.
Strong alcohol
Among strong alcoholic products, mezcal stands in a special place. It is as strong as tequila, and the tastes are similar. However, they are completely different products.
Mezcal is made from agave juice. But, if tequila is made from one type of juice, then 3 or even 4 varieties of agave juice are used to prepare mezcal at once.
Caterpillars are often placed inside the bottles. This is done to attract the attention of foreign buyers. The opinion that caterpillars are used to produce alcohol is erroneous.
If you want to try the local mezcal, pay attention to the following brands:
- Gusano Rojo (“Kusano Roho”);
- Divino Reposado «Divino Reposado»);
- Lajita («Ладжита»).
These are proven brands, there is no doubt about the quality.
You will be surprised, but moonshine is widespread in Mexico, it is drunk by people who cannot afford store products. I tried it, the taste is interesting and memorable.
Weak alcohol
Popular in Mexico and weak alcoholic drinks. Residents prefer to drink beer and pulque.
The peculiarity of local beer is a light, refreshing taste. The drink is sold in small bottles. Everyone drinks it everywhere. It replaces water, there are few degrees in it.
Beer is made from corn and tapioca. Having opened the bottle, the Mexican will definitely place a piece of lemon or lime inside the neck. It’s accepted here. The brands Corona Extra (“Crown Extra”) and Sol (“Sol”) have proven themselves to be excellent.
Pulque is the oldest drink. It is only sold in Mexico. Historical sources confirm that the Indians invented the recipe. Pulque has a peculiar taste, some do not like it.
Find the pulque on the shelves, next to the beer. Recognize the drink by the bright labels on the bottles.
It is made from fermented agave juice. The drink has a milky color, it is viscous and thick. When you drink pulque, a pronounced taste of yeast remains in the rue. Previously, only selected people, priests, were allowed to drink it – it was considered a sacred drink.
Cocktails
Tequila Sunrise is a traditional Mexican cocktail. It appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and has not lost its relevance since then. The basis is the same tequila. I learned the recipe from a local bartender (surprisingly with good English) and I hasten to share it with you:
Ingredients:
- silver tequila – 50 ml;
- orange juice – 150-200 ml;
- Grenadine syrup – 10 ml;
- slice of orange or lime.
Pour a handful of ice cubes into a tall glass. Pour in the tequila and then the syrup. Fill a glass with orange juice. Garnish with a piece of fruit. Important! Do not stir or the flavor will be lost.
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Take care of yourself!
Well, that’s all for today! If you know interesting recipes that Mexicans use or you have tried unusual alcohol produced in this vibrant country, share it with me in the comments. I think I’ll be back here!