The Tarahumara, or self-called Rarámuri, are one of the largest indigenous tribes in North America with nearly 100,000 people. The majority are concentrated in the highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. The alcohol used by the Tarahumara is almost entirely in the form of Tesgüino.
To prepared the maize are soaked, ground up, boiled and spiked with a local grass to help the mixture ferment.
It is said that tesguino was given to the Indians by onoruame or Lata diosi (god) so that they could get their work done and that they might enjoy themselves. Whenever a jar of the beer is drunk, it must first be dedicated to Lata diosi by symbolically tossing three small gourdfuls dipped from a larger gourd towards each of the four directions.
Tesgüino beer
