Tejuino

Tejuíno is a cold beverage made from fermented corn and popularly consumed in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Chihuahua. Tejuino is usually made from corn dough, the same kind used for tortillas and tamales. The dough is mixed with water and piloncillo (cone-shaped unrefined cane sugar) and boiled until the liquid is very thick. The liquid is then allowed to ferment very slightly. The resulting drink is generally served cold, with lime juice, a pinch of salt and a scoop of shaved ice or lime sorbet.[1]

Tejuino
A cup of tejuino with shaved ice in it.
CourseBeverage
Place of originMexico
Region or stateJalisco
Created byHuichól Amerindians
Serving temperatureIce Cold
Main ingredientsCorn, Piloncillo, Lemon, Salt
VariationsLime sorbet (nieve de limón), Chili powder

Although the drink is strongly associated with the state of Jalisco, it is also commonly found in other parts of Mexico and more recently in Mexican American communities across Southwestern United States.[2] In Mexico it is usually sold by street vendors in small plastic cups or in plastic bags tied around a straw. In the United States it can be found in Mexican juice bars.[2]

Origin

The exact origin of Tejuino is disputed; however, most Mexicans agree that the drink dates back to pre-Columbian times. The ancient Nahua people of Mexico viewed Tejuino as the "drink of the gods" and it is still called this by some Mexicans today.[3]

Variations

Within the state of Jalisco there are variations as to how it is served. In Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, for example, tejuino is served without nieve de limon; in Guadalajara, Jalisco, it is usually served with nieve de limon, at the buyer's discretion.[4] Nieve de limon is a homemade lime sorbet that is often added to the drink to bring out its natural flavor.

Alcohol content

Since tejuino is only allowed to ferment for a couple of days at most, the alcohol content is actually very low. There is a common myth among Mexicans that one can get drunk from drinking too much tejuino; however, this is usually due to the addition of small amounts of beer in some recipes rather than the alcohol content of the tejuino itself.

See also

References
  1. "Cold Drinks, Mexican style". 2007-03-04. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. "Ethnic food tastes worth acquiring: Tejuino". Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  3. "Tejuino El Tucan: Beverage of the Gods". Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  4. "Slurping Tejuino". Retrieved 2013-12-31.
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