Did the Aztecs drink beer

Answer 1

The two more well known drinks that the Aztecs drank were chocolate base drinks and octli.

Ancient Aztencs and Mayan cultures highly values cacao and chocolate. They were used in religious ceremonies (in beverage form), medicinal, and sometimes used as money. Cacao was used in conjunction with flavorings like flowers and chili.They were generally reserved for adult males, priests, high governemtn officials, military officers, distinguished warriors, and occasionally sacrificial victims for ritual purposes. This was because chocolate drink was perceived as intoxicating and stimulating and was regarded as being unstuitable for women and children.

"Among the more well-known spices were chenopodium, coriander and sage. Vanilla, extracted from the pods of a species of orchid, was among the most esteemed flavorings. Chocolate was prepared by grinding roasted cacao beans, sometimes with parched corn, and them mixing the powder with vanilla orchid pods or sweetened with honey. Like tea and coffee, this beverage is rich in caffeine and was much prized in ancient Mesoamerica."

---The Aztecs, Townsend (p. 173)

A first-hand account of Aztec chocolate-making was written in 1556 by an anonymous European explorer:

"These seeds, which they call cacao, are ground and made into powder and put into certain vessels that have a spout. Then they add water and stir it with a spoon, and after it is well mixed they pour it back and forth from one vessel to another until it is foamy. The foam is gathered and put in a cup, and when they are ready to drink the beverage they beat it with some small spoons made if gold. To drink it one must open the mouth wide, for since it has a froth it is necessary to make room for it to dissolve and go in gradually. This drink is the most wholesome and substantial of any food or beverage in the world, because whoever drinks a cup of this can go through the day without taking anything else even if he is on a journey, and it is better in warm weather than in cold, since it is a cold drink."

A common misconception perpatuated online is that the Aztecs drank cacao hot, with milk, or cooked with cacao. The Ancient Aztecs drank chocolate based drinks cold and did not cook with it. The practice of cooking with chocolate was introduced by the Spanish and continues to live through the well known Mexican dish, Mole Poblano. As for the misconception of milk being utilized by the Aztecs, it is well known they had no large domestic animals (unlike the Inca's of Peru) and did not milk animals. New world cattle were introduced to the Americas in 1493 on Columbus' second trip.

Another Aztic drink was the octli, which is an alcoholic drink that was used only by nobility, royalty and warriors. "It was produced from the sap of the maguey plant. The sap was placed in a large jug and allowed to rot. A good maker of octli would boil it until it had the consistency of honey, while bad vendors would water the drink down. If a nobleman consumed too much of the drink and become intoxicated, he was put to death."

Answer 2

Although it is known that the Aztecs would drink several kinds of herbal teas, there is a special beverage, a sort of "wine" called Pulque, that could only be drunk in religious celebrations. Besides that, only people over 70 years old were allowed to drink this beverage freely.

It is believed, but not confirmed, that they were able to ferment several roots such as maize to produce sorts of beer.

Answer 3

They made Hot Chocolate, but not in the same way people of today would think of hot chocolate. They did not add sugar to their hot chocolate. Instead, they added peppers, corn meal, and other spices to their hot chocolate.

Answer 4

yes the Aztecs driked beer it was called octila

Answer 5

the Aztec would have almost what we have for hot chocolate now it was a heated cocoa drink mostly royalty drank it though.