The 3-Day Tlaxcala Pulque Route
A lot of people are sincerely curious about the beautiful, pre-historic looking maguey plants, what uses the plant is put toward, and how they get grown. In a few days, you can find out a lot more about them, and feel really a part of the fantastic Tlaxcala landscape.
Your trip starts in Tecoaque a little more than an hour outside of the capital city of Tlaxcala. The place is steeped in history, and maguey plants seem to be reaching up from all around. On the trip, visitors learn all about the legend surrounding Tecoaque, its people, and the Europeans who arrived here. The story is very much alive and even more vibrant when you get there.
Tecoaque houses a site museum to better tell that story, but of course, the ruins themselves tell a human tale of people and their daily lives. Inside, the extraordinary collection includes the cuauhxicalli, a sacred deposit of the hearts of the sacrificed, the burial dedicated to the Mayahuel, the goddess of pulque. As a commercial area with relations with Teotihuacan, Texcoco and Tenochtitlan, the city left behind a great variety of ceramic vessels, burners, pots, incense burners, and stone mask.
One could spend a week among the ruins and the collected artifact, but we must soldier on to find out more about pulque, the ancient drink of the gods, and the legacy we take part in today.
More than just plants you see from the highway, the Magueys on the famous Tepuente Ranch come truly alive. The town of the same name is home to the tlachiqueros who still revel in the plants, their elixir, and the celebrated drink made from the magisterial heart of that same plant.
Tepuente is a must visit for those curious about maguey cultivation, harvesting, and the fermentation process. Visiting means sampling the local barbacoa and learning about agriculture across the region.
Organized tours from Tlaxcala are widely available. Take a day or two and you will more fully appreciate not only the pulque, and the plants, but the entire tradition.
Day three of our Agave Tour takes us to the fantastic Hacienda San Cayetano in Nanacamilpa. People come for the magnificent architecture, and because the place, the setting is simply stunning. With guided tours, lodging, and a cultural calendar planned around the year, the place is popular for weddings and often serves as a set for films.
The Hacienda San Cayetano is a major stop on the pulque route, and so most visitors will kick back and relax here. After taking in the Hacienda itself, may will also tour the town. A variety of smaller pulquerias carry on the tradition, and make every stay or visit one that you\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ll never forget.
Certified tour guide, Yariela Carmona Garcia can tell you more about Tepuente and the rest of the tour. You can reach her at 241 59 35 675.
