Pulque: The Ancient Mesoamerican Beverage Made From Agave

Published November 15, 2022

Let us introduce you to one of the original national drinks of Mexico, and no we’re not talking about margaritas. Pulque originates from the days of the Aztecs in Central Mexico and is technically considered an alcoholic drink, though it works a little differently (we’ll get to that later). Considered to be the Aztec drink of the gods, per Agave Cocina, this beverage has a milky white appearance coupled with a distinctive acidic smell. It comes from the sap of maguey plants, also known as agave. This probably rings a bell because two present-day favorites, tequila and mezcal, also come from the agave plant, and some would consider pulque the grandfather of modern tequila. But one of the key differences between tequila and pulque is that tequila is distilled, while pulque is fermented. Mexperience says tequila also involves cooking the raw plant matter before distilling it, while pulque ferments it raw.

The flavor of pulque is unlike anything else, one could argue you’d have to try it yourself to truly understand. It’s exceedingly rare to find in the United States but it’s abundant in Mexico to this day. The next time you take a trip there, consider skipping the margarita and give pulque a try. It has a taste and texture similar to kombucha, if not a bit thicker, and it comes in two main forms, per BBC: plain and curado, which is sweetened with other flavors, usually fruit.

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