About Tejuino

Traditional Mexican Beverage

In this page we offer basic information about tejuino, a traditional Mexican beverage.

Tejuino, Mexican Beverage
Tejuino is a lightly fermented beverage based on corn, seasoned with salt, dark sugar, lemon, ice and a pinch of chile.

A fresh tejuino drink stand

Tejuino is a beverage originated in Colima, a southwest Mexican state.

The main ingredients of this beverage are corn dough and piloncillo. --Piloncillo is the Mexican word for hardened molases--.

Refreshing Beverage
Tejuino is a refreshing drink that you can buy along the west Mexican coast and in northern Mexican states. Tejuino's base is masa, the very same dough used to makes up tortillas.

They mix it with water and piloncillo, and boil it to a thick consistency. Then a pinch of salt an lemon are added.

Basic Recipe to Prepare Tejuino with Raw Corn Masa
1- Dilute a kilo of corn meal in water so as to obtain a porridge-like consistency
2- Add 3 / 4 of a kilo of brown sugar
3- Allow 4 days to ferment in warm weather or 7 days in cold weather
4- Add sea salt, lemon juice, ice and chile to taste when serving

The key in preparing this refreshing beverage is pouring it from a high level and back from a high level several times to oxigenate it. The end result: one of the planet's best rehydration drinks.

Origins of Tejuino
Tejuino is a drink whose origins are lost beyond the year 1400 AD.

The place of origin of tejuino is central Mexico, where the Nahua people lived. For this reason the word "tejuino" comes most likely from the Nahuatl language.

More About Tejuino
Today the popularity of this Mexican drink is continuously increasing in Mexico and in the U.S.

Do not confuse "tejuino" with "tesgüino". The latter is another Mexican beverage but much more fermented.