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A curious tour of the pulquerías in Mexico City

Colectivo El Tinacal shares the culture of this traditional beverage

Taditional “pulcata” in the vicinities of the Basílica and Peralvillo – Photo: Hermes Quetzalcóatl
23/08/2017 |13:48Viridiana Ramírez |
Redacción El Universal
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The members of Colectivo El Tinacal organize a tour in which they share their knowledge on the culture of pulque (a traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented agave sap ) and they retell the stories of the surviving traditional “ pulcatas ” ( pulquerías , colloquially know as pulcatas, are a type of tavern in Mexico that specialize in serving pulque) in the vicinities of the Basílica and Peralvillo

First stop: La Victoria

A curious tour of the pulquerías in Mexico City

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and molcajetes overflowing of traditional sauces are part of the mandatory background in every pulquería, and La Victoria is no exception. In La Victoria , the elaboration process of the pulque is narrated among slum music and sips of oatmeal, tomato or clam curado (pulque can be drunk straight from the barrel or can have a series of added flavors; pulque prepared this way is called curado). Clam curado is the specialty of the house.

Second stop: La Tlaxcalteca

The declining of the pulquería culture is narrated in La Tlaxcalteca , on Calzada de los Misterios . While tasting a pineapple or xoconostle (a fruit from the nopal cactus) curado, the guests find out about the rail way attacks during the Mexican Revolution , the campaign against alcoholic beverages in Lázaro Cardenas government, and several other factors that almost made these establishments disappear.

Third stop: La Bonita

A curious tour of the pulquerías in Mexico City

Located in the vicinities of the streets of Nicolás Bravo and Tepito , La Bonita is a pulquería and museum. Covering its walls, there are newspaper cutouts from 100 years ago, cartoon sketches and the altar of La Virgen de Guadalupe , and the floor is covered in sawdust to absorb any spills.

Final stop: Mi Museo Indígena

The tour ends in Peralvillo's Antique Custom Office ( La Antigua Aduana de Peralvillo ). Most of the pulque from Tlaxcala and Hidalgo arrived here. Now, it is an indigenous art museum.

The tour tickets cost MXN$ 478 per person. The next tour dates start on September 9 .

Tickets will be available on The Welcomers:

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