[Aztlan] Chicha

[John F. Schwaller]

Chicha of various sorts can be found throughout the Americas.  It is 
also very popular in the Andes.  In Inca times women would chew corn 
sprouts, and spit the mixture into bowls for fermentation.  The 
salivary enzymes created a product not unlike "Light" beer.

The word "chicha" comes from the natives of Panama, 'chichab' meaning 
maize, or so the Academia Real tells us.

While tepache is from an indigenous language of Mexico, I'm not so 
sure it is from Nahuatl.  I'll have to look into it.




John F. Schwaller
President
SUNY Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Ave.
Potsdam, NY  13676

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