Early coconut distillation and the origins of mezcal and tequila spirits in west-central Mexico |
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Authors: | Daniel Zizumbo-Villarreal Patricia Colunga-GarcíaMarín |
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Institution: | (1) Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 No. 130, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, 97200, Yucatán, México |
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Abstract: | No evidence exists of distillation in Mexico before European contact. The Philippine people in Colima established the practice
in the 16th Century to produce coconut spirits. Botanical, toponymic, archaeological, and ethnohistoric data are presented
indicating that agave distillation began in Colima, in the lower Armería-Ayuquila and Coahuayana-Tuxpan river basins, using
Agave angustifolia Haw. and through adaptation of the Philippine coconut spirits distillation technique. Subsequent selection and cultivation
of agaves led to their domestication and diversification. This did not take place in the lower river basins, where agave populations
tended to disappear. The distillation technique spread to the foothills of Colima volcanoes and from there to all of western
Mexico, leading to creation of tequila and other agave spirits. Two factors aided producers in avoiding strict Colonial prohibitions
and were therefore key to the diffusion and persistence of agave spirits production: (1) clandestine fermentation in sealed,
underground pits carved from bedrock, a native, pre-European contact technique; and (2) small, easy-to-use Philippine-type
stills that could be hidden from authorities and allowed use of a broad range of agave species.
Dedicated to Henry Bruman in honor of his contribution to the understanding of coconut and agave genetic resources history
in America. |
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Keywords: | Agave angustifolia Cocos nucifera Diversification Domestication Genetic resources Mexico Mezcal Tequila |
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