What is pulque?

Pulque, or Octli, is a fermented drink made of agave or maguey juice. Outside Mexico, this drink can be difficult to obtain because it is not too stable. Most consumers are more familiar with tequila, another alcoholic beverage made of Agave. However, tequila is fermented and distilled to create strong alcohol, while pulque is more like a type of beer, with a relatively low alcohol content and a clear sour flavor that comes from fermentation.

Agaves are slopes that are abundantly distributed throughout Mexico and American Southwest. They are sometimes known as plants of the century because of their occasional flowering cycle. The stems of these flowers produce a sweet nectar that is collected to produce pulque. Most nectar used in the production of beverages come from the plant Agave salmiana , which has been used as a source of nectar since the time of the Aztecs.

Pulque is fermented, not distilled. It was probably one of the earliest alcoholic beverages made inCentral America, like beers, was made before liqueurs in other parts of the world. Pulque also plays a role in traditional religions of Mexico and Central America, while the discovery of Pulque was credited with Tepoztecatl, the Aztec God. The drink was also looking forward to the gods of drunk, and some consumers sacrificed a small slope to the gods before they drink a glass of this traditional drink.

Agave Nectar used to produce Pulque is collected in large drums for weeks and then allowed to ferment. Once the fermentation process is completed, it is ready to drink. The taste of the drink goes through rapid changes as soon as it has completed fermentation, so it can be difficult to get outside the regions that produce this traditional dense, slightly milk drink. Some manufacturers have managed to pasteurize and can export their pulque F or, although most purists do not consider it an acceptable form.

The acidic taste can make pulque a taste.The drink is often mixed with other ingredients to make it tastier. When mixed with fruit juices such as mango and pineapple, they are often available as curado . In Mexico you can find it for sale in Pulqueiras, bars dedicated to the sale of Pulque; Traditionally, these devices are limited to men.