Native "Elixirs" of Mexico

On the peninsula of Mexico, like most places, you will find the popular elixir of tequila and its cousin mezcal. Both spirits are distilled from the agave plant, but the difference is that tequila has to come from the blue agave plant grown in the central state of Jalisco and is protected with a Designation of Origin (DO) by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (the Tequila Regulate Council). Specifically the mezcal is made from the heart, called the piña, of the maguey plant which is in the same family as the agave plant. It is thought that the maguey plant was one of the most sacred plants of pre-Hispanic Mexico. The creation myth of mezcal states that a lightning bolt struck the plant, opening and cooking it, therefor releasing the the plant's juices. Because it was created by an "act of the gods," the liquid is called the “elixir of the gods."

Cerveza (beer) is also widely available and although you can find all national brands such as Corona and Dos Equis, two local beers stand out: the lager Montejo and the dark León Negra because of their bold flavors. The practice of a beer served with a wedge of lime in the mouth of the bottle is not as common in Mexico as it is in foreign bars and you will find that establishments that serve lime with your beer would most likely offer it on a small plate. 

Balché is a Maya spirit that was offered to the gods during special ceremonies. It is fermented inside the hollow trunk of the balché tree with water and honey. In Valladolid (colonial town near Chichen Itza), during indigenous weddings, the bride is sprayed with balché as a sign of abundance. (You can follow the link to read the legend of the balché drink.)
Balché is not commercially available, but another Maya spirit, Xtabentún is easy to find in the region. Xtabentún is an anise-flavored liqueur that when authentic is made by fermenting honey produced by honey bees that their nectar came from the nectar of the xtabetún flower. Rum is also added to the mixture of honey and anise to enhance the flavor even more. It is possible that xtabentún may have its origin in balché, but due to the strong flavor that didn't appeal to the Spanish conquistadores, they introduced anise and took away the tree bark and corn. It is usually served straight, cold, or with ice and honey. It can also be served with coffee, creating a drink called "Mayan coffee" or with one shot of tequila and an equal part xtabentún then adding half a lime makes a "Maya margarita." Wikipedia.

*We love sharing with you Mexican inspired recipes and information about local food and drink, but as always we would also like to tell you about 
We Deliver Cancun. By visiting our online grocery store and making an order from the comfort of your home you will avoid the long checkout lines, searching the shelves for unfamiliar products, translating English to Spanish and converting currency. Enjoy your hard earned vacation and let us do the shopping for you. We will deliver quality goods to you in a timely manner while you enjoy the beach. We also offer airport transportation to your hotel and your goods can accompany you as you arrive to your home away from home for the week. If you don't find something on our site, just ask us and we will do our best to provide it to you.