Tejate

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Tejate is a maize and cacao beverage traditionally made in Oaxaca, Mexico, originating from pre-Hispanic times. It remains very popular among the indigenous Mixtec and Zapotec peoples, especially in rural areas but it´s also very popular for any one that´s lives in Oaxaca or closely surrounding regions. Principle ingredients include toasted maize flour, fermented cacao beans, mamey pits and flor de cacao (also known as rosita de cacao). These are finely ground into a paste, then this paste is mixed with water, usually by hand, and when it is ready, the flor de cacao rises to the top to form a pasty foam. It can be served as is or with some sugar syrup to sweeten it. The drink is served cold.

The origin of the Mexican Spanish name tejate is not known for certain, but is thought to derive from the Nahuatl texatl (floury water), compounded from textli (flour) and atl (water). The Zapotec name for tejate is cu’uhb.