For the Amazonian
cultures, chicha is not only an alcoholic beverage, it is also a highly
nutritious food.
It is consumed in
times of food shortage, and it is a typical drink that is used to welcome
special guests.
In the Andean region
chicha is originally made from maize but in the amazon more commonly from yucca
root or chonta fruit.
In the traditional
production of chicha de maiz, or maize chicha, the enzymes that are needed to
hydrolyse the starches in raw materials are derived from human saliva.
 |
| Chonta mash guarded at room temperature in the Amazon. |
Older women masticate
a coarsely ground meal, incorporating the amylases of their saliva.
The masticated meal
has a dough-like consistency and can be formed to small cakes which are then
dried and stored.
When chicha is
produced these cakes or the dough is mixed in the water.
The human amylases
complete their conversion of starch into fermentable sugars, and yeast and
lactic acid fermentation is started by addition of a batch of a prior
fermentation.
 |
| Adding riverwater to the chonta mash. |
Depending on the
temperature the fermentation is complete and it can take from 6 to 10 days.
In the Amazon area
only women can touch the chicha and everyone produces their own typical chicha.
Very common type of
Amazonic chicha is chicha de chonta.
Chonta is a palm that
is originated from Amazon area of Ecuador and Peru.
The palm is covered
with dark spines and its round fruits are yellow to red and they closely
resemble peaches.
 |
| Mixing the chicha with hand, this is non-fermented chicha that is served instantly. |
Chicha de chonta is a “fruit”
beer, as the fruits since starch and fat rich fruits are used for brewing.
The fruits are cooked,
peeled, chewed and mixed with water.
The mash is then left
for spontaneous fermentation that can take from 3 to 4 days.
Chicha is also made
from yucca root here in the Amazon.
Both yucca and chonta
chicha are considered great delicacies and are always given to visitors as the
first meal offered.
 |
| Expriming the water from mashed chicha. |
If you do not accept
the chicha and drink the whole pilche, or cup, you will not ever be offered
anything in that house.
Both chonta and yucca are gluten-free and rich in nutrients.
They are an excelent, and healthy, option for traditional beers or alcoholic beveraged that contain gluten.
The family in the pictures is my friend, or adopted daughter Celia with her husband.
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| My friend, and adopted daughter, Celia with pilche of chicha. |
The older kichwa lady is Celia's husbands aunt and my "cousin".
The family wanted to offer me the best they had and show around their house, a traditional wooden kichwa house in the Amazon.
It would have been an incredible insult not to drink chicha and not to drink the whole "pilche" or the tin cup that the lady used while making chicha.
Besides of a kichwa daughter, a lot of cousins, aunts and uncles, I also have four grandchildren now.
For vanity's sake I have to add that my daughter is only five years younger than I am.
Wow what an interesting way to make it. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteMichelle F.
I have never heard of it, but now I am curious to taste it to see what it tastes like. Thanks for sharing this - I learned something new today!
ReplyDeleteI love to hear about new foods, and this beer seems cool. The mash is strange looking!
ReplyDeleteInteresting cultural tradition... I have never heard this...
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting. Love finding new things and foods.
ReplyDeleteAwww your "daughter" is beautiful! That is funny that she is only four years younger. I love to hear about new foods too!
ReplyDeleteIt is a Kichwa tradition, Krystal. My first daughter here is actually ten years older than I am, lol. But it's an honorary title. It is sort of like mentor, it means that you are an honored person that has taught them a lot and that they love and feel that loves and cares for them, a mother in other words.
DeleteI wish that people is the US cared more about insulting people. It seems to be more self-centered to not be afraid insult the host/hostess. Would like to try the chicha
ReplyDeleteI love all of the pictures you included with this post. The chicha de conta sounds so interesting and I love trying a new food from a different culture!
ReplyDeleteI am reading this right, they use their spit as an ingredient? Interesting!
ReplyDeleteYes, it starts the fermenting process. Very important in a hot climat.
DeleteThat is kinda of gross and kind of cool at the same time! LOL. Spit for an ingredient... What a recipe.
DeleteThis is a very interesting beverage and food. But, wow, saliva as an ingredient sure seems interesting to me!
ReplyDeleteYou got me until the saliva part. But very interesting to learn about other cultures and how they prepare beer.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty fascinating! It's quite a process to make it, and so interesting that you must drink the whole thing not to offend.
ReplyDeleteI thought is fascinating, never heard of it before until now. Amazon is a place I always wanted to go but never made it, yet. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteIn loving light
I hope you will be able to visit the Amazon one day, Cindy. This is an amazing place and I'm just scratching the surface here.
DeleteWow I've never heard of this before! Really interesting cultural tradition!
ReplyDeleteYou lost me at saliva but this is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteIt is eye opening to see how others live in other cultures. I had never heard of this type of food/drink.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this, and it's a fascinating way of making something others will drink. I am not sure if I'd try it...
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Chicha de Chonta before. It is interesting how it is made. I'd love to try it sometime.
ReplyDeleteIt's always so interesting to learn about other cultures! What a process to make this!
ReplyDeleteI never heard of this mixture. What a treat for you to try!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'm not sure if I could handle pre-chewed food!
ReplyDeleteWow - that looks a little scary, but interesting! I'd try anything once! Beautiful pictures and stories.
ReplyDeleteSo I gather it is a staple. Does it taste like beer? Curious, as I don't like beer.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! I'm guessing since drinking it is important noone minds that spit was required to make it?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story with interesting history! I've never heard of this, but I think it would be something I would try.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!! I'm not sure I would try it - well if they made it for me I would try a little bit, but not sure if it is something I would request! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks like quite the process. I love seeing what other cultures do everyday for things we just buy at the store.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beatifiul story. I love seeing how different cultures live their day to day lives.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this before! What a cool way to make a beer. My sister likes to make her own wine, so I'll have to show this to her.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thank you for sharing! Very interesting cultural knowledge there-funny that my husband would joke the same thing if someone refused what he offered them in our house!
ReplyDeleteThat is what I love about small village living. You make your own foods from scratch. Those are some of the things I remember growing up in Jamaica
ReplyDeleteMade with love. Just like how all great food should be made.Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this. I wonder if my dh could drink it since he's not allowed much alcohol because of medications. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice that we get to see these things that you show us that we probably wouldn't without your blog. I think it's fun.
ReplyDeleteI think I've seen this on a documentary once. I have never tried palm beer, but I am adventurous enough to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this interesting lesson about this tradition and custom. The hubby does the beer thing and I'll have to tell him about this.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post and learning more about a culture and people I am not familiar with, it was quite interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool to read about etiquette in other countries. It's hard to imagine having to eat something or insulting someone. This was fascinating to read, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your posts. Learning so much about the culture, people and foods :)
ReplyDeleteWow, super interesting! I always wonder who was the first person to figure out how to creatively use ingredients and items found in nature.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a VERY interesting food...got to love learning about new cultures!
ReplyDelete