Thursday, August 20, 2020

Tlachiquero

Here we have another of the many postcard/photograph gifts I've received from my husband. Aren't the colors fabulous? And hey, that's a big agave! However the first thing I said when I saw this one was "what is he doing!?" I'm sure you understand.

So I looked up the word that appears under the image; Tlachiquero: collector of maguey sap for pulque (source). Then of course I wondered what the  actual definition of maguey is: an agave plant, especially one of a type used to make alcoholic drinks (definition from Oxford Languages), and of course next I looked up pulque: an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant. It is traditional to central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, somewhat viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste. (source). Sound good to you? I'm not sure.

Then of course I started watching videos, this is my favorite: The Tlachiquero, a trade that lasts in Jiquipilco. Who knew!? Speaking of, if anyone can read and translate the text on the back of the postcard I'd love to know what it says...

Weather Diary, Aug 19: Hi 87, Low 61/Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

11 comments:

  1. This old postcard has fantastic colors and cool story. Do you think 10-19-10 is October 19th, 1910? It would make this 110 year old... The video is interesting though I don't speak a word of Spanish. (Oh, maybe one: cerveza). For an agave lover like yourself, it had to be hard to see the plant butchery, although the process didn't kill it (right?). I am partial to the other agave drink, tequila.
    If my Spanish speaking friend is able to read and translate, I'll report back.

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    1. I was wondering the same about those numbers, I suppose researching the stamp might give some idea as to the age was well. For some reason the butchery didn't bother me, maybe because it's happening for a reason, not just someone hacking up a plant as vandalism. This doesn't kill it, at least not right away, where as making tequila definitely does.

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  2. I expect it was hard for you to see agaves treated as a crop, Loree. It was for me! I'd have made a run at Google Translate for the text but I can't make out enough of the handwriting to make that exercise anything but frustrating.

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    1. Me too, that handwriting is very hard to read! Hoov did a great job though, see below.

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  3. Thought tequila was the only alcoholic beverage from agaves. What struck me about the picture is how large the agave is in comparison to the young man. That's one big specimen.

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    1. They're big plants that can definitely bite back if you're not careful!

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  4. Can't make out some of the words, so much may be incorrect, and some nonsensical.

    "I (He?) did not answer your last two postcards because I (He?) was in San Jose... On Monday, we continue to... see a person. I hope to see you go and do a lot. Dispense the h ??? but at the moment no ...??... Remember what ???? for that"

    Fun card. There was a local PBS show here on making pulque. It was quite interesting.

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    1. Thanks for this! That's way more than I hoped for with that hard to read handwriting.

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  5. The old post cards with spikes he gives you must be romantico! I'm now pondering a drink with tequila this evening...

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  6. I like it - definitely a piece of artwork worthy of framing!

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