City Farm is a not-for-profit community organisation that has been running an Urban Farm for over 25 years located only a few minutes from the centre of Perth. This unique urban sanctuary is a working urban farm that focuses on recycling, sustainability and community support. One service they offer is a small commercial kitchen and (larger) dining area. In this space has popped up an … Continue reading Product Review : Mole de Xico
Soy la mariposa negra del fin del mundo danzo feliz sobre sus tumbas. I am the black butterfly at the end of the world I dance happily on their graves. Mictlanpapalotl : excerpt of a poem by Maria De La Luz Carillo Romero / México These insects belong to the Lepidoptera order, Arsenura armada C. genus/species (1). Arsenura armida Syn: Phalaena armida Cuetlas (1) are … Continue reading Edible Insects : Cuetla
I am an avid book collector and every time I stumble across one in a second hand store I snaffle it up. I particularly like older books as I am able to compare them with the new publications in my collection and see how far knowledge has grown or changed in the intervening years. My recent acquisition was this book the “Illustrated Encyclopedia : The … Continue reading Tequila. We’ve come a long way. (Book Review)
Cover Image : ‘Vocho Teotihuacano’ : Héctor Garnelo Navarro etal The tendency of Christianity (regardless of which form you wish to discuss it in) is to destroy that which does not fit within the confines of its dogma. If it cannot destroy then, much like the Romans (1) it will appropriate and absorb. This appropriation is problematic as although they are appearing to take something … Continue reading Aztec Gods or States of Consciousness? Another Observation.
This is something you may hear regarding the differences between tequila and mezcal. Previously this little dicho (or saying) did bear some relevance as both tequila and mezcals are made from the maguey (or agave). The main difference was that mezcal could be made from any number of agaves (1) whilst tequila could be made from only one variety (2). Tequila is protected by both … Continue reading All Tequila is Mezcal BUT not all Mezcal is Tequila.
There are many rituals and traditions that surround the imbibing of the life blood of the agave (1) and there is a deep poetry in the language used to describe its consumption. In some rituals of agricultural abundance pulque was poured onto the ground whilst planting the corn to increase the fertility of the earth and encourage the corn to grow. When drinking pulque the … Continue reading Poetic Language of the Maguey.
Honey ants, sometimes called honeypot ants, are found in a few arid areas of the world, including Mexico and Australia. “Honeypot ant” is a common name for the many species of ant with workers that store honey in their abdomen. Honey pot ants are not a separate ant species, but rather a specialised role taken by designated worker ants of various different species. These individuals, … Continue reading Edible Insects : Hormiga de miel : Honeypot ants
This is the Xicalcoliuhqui symbol that can be found all throughout Mesoamerica on buildings, artwork, clothing, and even war shields. It is the oldest and most widespread symbol of duality that exists in Mesoamerican cultures. Xicalcoliuhqui, also referred to as a “step fret” or “stepped fret” design, is a common motif in Mesoamerican art. It is composed of three or more steps connected to a … Continue reading Xochipilli : Beyond Gender
Typically vinos de mezcal (1) are made by cooking the heart of the agave (2) either by steaming in an autoclave or by baking in ovens (3) which is then crushed to obtain a sweet juice. This juice is then fermented and then distilled to produce the alcoholic beverages known as mezcal and tequila. Before the notion of Mezcal or Tequila as categories of spirits, … Continue reading Destilado de Pulque
The Mesoamerican deity Huitzilopochtli was the patron god of the Mexican people during the height of Aztec rule. Where he stands now is a little less clear though. Huitzilopochtli’s legend goes (1) that after he was betrayed by a nephew he killed him and removed his heart. This heart was disposed of on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco and, like many creation … Continue reading Tenochtitlan in Australia?
Masa Americana 