San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-23
MEXICO CITY LETTER.
HOW PUL0UE, THE NATIONAL BBV-
ERAGE, Is MADE AND SOLD.
It is Mexico's Favorite Beverage-Its
Legendary 0rigin-General Epit-
ONE Of the Weeks News.
Special Correspondence:

Special Correspondence:
NCity of Mexico, Aug. 12.-Pulque is
cn<rl beverage of Mexico AS
beer is anidAg our German friends
and there arefthree reasons for this;
first is becausS it ieecheap. An or
binary beer glass full costs uno CEN
tayo Zone cent? and it is cheaper in
larger quantities.; second, because it
is exhilarating and healthy having a
good effect on tho liver and kidneys
and is a goodpappetizer and an excel
lent tonic, and thirdly because, taken
) In large quantities, it gives remark
able jag, with opiate effects. Indeed it
strikes it's victims suddenly and all of
a heap, and, though he comes to his
senses next day, he is then half
!. drunk In its chemical action pulque
seems to have similar effects to that
Of morphine, and If you examine the
face of an habitual pulque drunkard
1t has a marked resemblance to that
of morphine fiend.
The discovery Of pulque and its
: manufacture dates back to the elev-
enth century, and there is an inter-
esting historic legend Of this event
that is illustrated by a fine painting
in the San Carlos academy of this
city. The legend says that pulque
was discovered by Papantzin, noble
kof the court of the Toltec chief. Te-
&pauIcatzin, and Papantzin found that
t was so good and it's jags so delight
Hui that he decided to send large
essel of this to his chief by his
laughter, Xochitl. Notwithstanding
Ter ugly, unpronouncable name, the
laid was fair to look upon and dang
Kous. Xochitl brought the pulque to
&paulcatzin. He and the court sam
I'd it literally, and all seemed to
re gone into an exhilirating stage,
Tepaulcatzin seemed to have
\ght that pulque was the embrosia
re gods, and then, notwithstaud-
bat he was married, he thought
lir bearer of the pulque was the
|hfest woman on earth To make
u story short Xochitl became the
\ of son by Tepaulcatzin and
Ned that son as his heir. OF
No the only and original Mrs.
Ekulcatzin kicked at the armour, but
M she found that Xochitl's child
yesvhe chrome to the exclu-
sion Y Her own legitimate loffsprings
! there was a good sized family row,
which ended in a civil war and which
| caused the downfall Of the Toltecs.
/ All this occurred in the ancient city
of lula, the birthplace of pulque, and
,papantzin is called ''the father of pull
hue" to this day. Thus we see that
the rise of pulque commenced in
trouble and trouble has been its atten-
dant since then, and is even now.
PuIque is fermented and naturally
an alcoholic drink. 1t is generally
taken with meals at home or in the
restaurant, quart bottle being the
average dose. This costs from 3 to
IL cents. 1t all depends how or where
you buy it, one being just as good as
the other. 1t is freely used all day at
the innumerable pulquerias, that is
saloons where pulque alone is sold.
Pulque, in appearance, much re-
sembles butter milk, and its taste is
q not much unlike it, except that the
flavor is more of a bitter, sour taste.
| vt first the stranger does not like it,
vt he soon gets used to it and finds
most refreshing, healthy drink.
,g11e times the red fruit of the cac-
tns-petuna is mashed and put into
rpulQue, and this makes an exquisite
drink.
The maguey plant grows wild here,
! but hundreds of thousands of acres
are cultivated, for it is from this plant
] the pulque is procured. Scientific
S&fly the plant is called Agaye Amer
10, but in Texas people popularity
Mt as the Spanish dagger. These
tsRre to an immense size. There
Her species e the same plant,
|.