Tarahumara Tesguino Brewing Vessel

The Tarahumara are among the oldest indigenous native populations in the North America. They make their home among the beautifully rugged mountains of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental range, commonly known as the Copper Canyon. The remoteness and inaccessibility of the area has allowed the Tarahumara culture to remain intact and relatively unchanged since well before Spaniards explored the area in the 16th century.

At the heart of Tarahumara culture is an alcoholic beverage called tesguino. Tesguino is brewed from corn or at times agave, and it may also include various fruits, wheat and mesquite seeds. The brewing of tesguino involves a simple fermentation process which is performed in all households on a regular basis. The fermentation takes place in specially crafted earthenware vessels.

Tesguino serves a role in nearly every social situation imaginable. It’s used to organize communal work parties, celebrate marriages and births, consecrate fields, and it’s used in healing rituals. Researcher Kennedy (1963:635) remarks that, “it is no exaggeration to estimate that the average Tarahumara spends at least 100 days per year directly concerned with tesguino and much of this time under its influence or aftereffects.”

Tesguino’s beneficial effects on social stability, individual and group psychic health cannot be overstated. And should you ever have the good fortune to attend a tesguinada, you’ll understand what a wonderfully rich source of pleasure and entertainment they provide.

These hand-crafted vessels are intended as ritual art objects due to the type of glazing that is used. Display stand is included.

Approx. size: 15" wide X 24" tall (including stand)

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