Distillation in Western Mesoamerica before European Contact

Origin of agriculture and plant domestication in West Mesoamerica

“…Fixation of the alleles involved in maize protein and starch quality by 4,400 BP may indicate that this complementarity had been attained by this time. In the BJ region, agro-food technology had become highly complex between 4,500 and 3,500 BP, as reflected in the use of pots for steaming, and probably also distilling, not found in other regions of Mesoamerica at this time (Zizumbo-Villarreal et al 2009b). In other words, in this region at this time, the agro-food system was complete, suggesting that the milpa system originated here.…”

Sustaining Biological and Cultural Diversity

“…The distillation of agave likely began in the seventeenth century with the introduction of "Filipino" stills (Bruman 2000). More recent findings by Zizumbo et al (2009) suggest that distillation could have taken place in the state of Colima centuries before the arrival of the Spanish. In 1710 Pedro de Tagle, 1 a member of the Spanish elite, opened a mezcal factory in the Tequila-Amatitán Valley of Jalisco (Luna 1991).…”

Extractivismo Forestal - Uruguay

“…Los grupos indígenas prehispánicos de Mesoamérica utilizaban la planta del agave para diversos fines, incluyendo la confección de prendas de vestir, como fuente de alimento y para producir bebidas alcohólicas fermentadas. Hubo un debate sobre si la tecnología de destilación se desarrolló o no antes de la Conquista (Zizumbo Villarreal et al, 2009a). En cualquier caso, esa hipótesis ha perdido terreno frente a los trabajos de Paulina Machuca (2018) sobre la difusión de las técnicas de destilación traídas a México por la inmigración filipina que venía en el famoso Galeón de Manila, y que se extendieron rápidamente por toda la región durante el siglo XVII, a partir de la producción de vino de coco.…”