I was looking for Hummus and what do I find at the Devon Market? Nectar Del Razo Pulque in the cooler next to the beer from Croatia... It's gotta be bought and it's gonna be bought.
I got it home poured a tall one in my Blackhawks Budweiser glass and decided to google it.
http://www.tequilamescal.com/pulque.htm
It's maguey cactus nectar that's fermented to about 6% alcohol. It's syrupy and tastes really good. Kind of fruity but more woody... and sweet. It's like a Zima ...but woody. I could drink this all summer long.
From: http://www.tequilamescal.com/pulque.htm
Pulque, a fermented beverage derived from juice of the maguey (agave) was the historical predecessor of mescal and tequila which wielded a heavy sociological influence during both Pre-Hispanic and Colonial periods of Mexican history. Maguey was one of the most sacred and important plants in ancient Mexico and had a privileged place in mythology, religious rituals and the meso-american economy. Pulque first appeared in Indian stone carvings about 200-200 AD.
The pulque gods wore a half moon made of bone in their nose and their faces were painted black and red representing the light and dark side of the lunarscape and reflected their status as lunar beings. This kinship with a star (the moon) that died and was reborn daily explains why the pulque gods were representative of life and death in nature and the celebration of the harvest. It was thought that the Goddess Mayahuel entered the heart of the maguey and that her blood flowed out with the gathering of agua miel during the production of pulque. Indian beliefs held that pulque was discovered by the Tlacuache (opossum) who was the first borrachero (drunk) who with his manlike hands he dug into the maguey to get at the fermented agua miel. He was also thought to have tormented the fire god resulting in his hairless tail. The Tlacuache was thought to set the course of rivers, which were usually straight except when he was drunk and wandered from cantina to cantina, then the rivers followed his meandering path. Pulque was used by the royalty and priesthood to celebrate great victories and on special days of religious celebration and many references to the use of pulque in pre-Hispanic celebrations have been found in hieroglyphic references. (the Borbonicus Codex shows pulque being served during the feast of Mixcoatl). In the central highlands, pulque was served as a ritual intoxicant presumably to increase the priest's enthusiasm over the imminent sacrifice and to ease the sacrifants impending demise.
Boulder Imports LLC is the importer of Nectar del Razo Pulque.
815-741-8441 or 888-392-9000
Posted by: Thomas F. Howard | May 13, 2005 at 10:39 AM
now we can call them up and have a pulque party!
Posted by: josh | May 13, 2005 at 11:16 AM
Does anyone know if pulque is found in the NW suburbs? Or if it is STILL carried at Devon Market? Please email me if you know anything, as I've been curious to try the stuff.
Posted by: Russ Perry Jr | November 13, 2005 at 05:39 PM
Don't know about the NW Burbs. It is still at Devon. I saw it there last week.
Posted by: joshj | November 14, 2005 at 04:33 PM
HI
I KNOW THIS IS AN OLD THREAD, BUT I AM TRYING TO TRACK DOWN SOME PULQUE. CANNOT SEEM TO GET IN TOUCH WITH BOUDERIMPORTS.
IS THERE ANYWHERE ELSE I MAY FIND SOME,
WANT TO ORDER FOR SHIPPING TO AUSTRALIA
THANKS
SVEN
Posted by: SVEN Almenning | June 21, 2006 at 10:21 AM
I had a pulque adventure with my older brother, Clay in the 60's. He showed up at my house with a jug of pulque that he got from a Mexican stable guy. We got good and drunk drinking it out by the lake...roaring drunk by the light of the moon!
Clay had learned to drink pulque when he was travelling in Mexico. We toasted all the girls he claimed he had met: Rosita, Chiquita and her sisters. I was young, maybe 19 that summer and foolish and thought this was the life, drinking pulque and listening to Clay's adventures. He fancied himself as a bandito and quite a man with the ladies.
The next day, I had a major hangover... never had one worse before or since.. and tried not to show it. My other older brothers thought it was quite funny and did all they could to turn the screws. Clay left shortly after that to go back to Mexico and despite my pleading, didn't let me join him.
Joe
Posted by: Joe | May 30, 2007 at 09:02 PM
Just called the Devon Market (1440 W Devon Ave, (773) 338-2572) and they no longer carry the 6-packs of Nectar del Razo Pulque due to poor sales. Also, an email to questions@boulderimports.com returned a "mail delivery problem" message. I am hoping that an email to jsamaniego@boulderimports.com is more successful. If anybody has seen any brand of pulque in Illinois in the last six months, please let me know.
Posted by: JB | June 23, 2007 at 01:25 PM
I got an email back from Joe at Boulder Imports and he said that they currently testing out a new line of pulque products under the "La Lucha" name but that they are only available in Houston, Texas. Apparently, they need to test the market and then increase production before they can offer it in other key markets around the country. Whether or not that's going to happen is a big question mark. So, for the time being, consider yourself lucky if you see some of the old "Nectar del Razo" product sitting on the shelves of any store. It's a discontinued product.
Check out La Lucha at:
http://www.pulquelalucha.com/
Posted by: JB | June 26, 2007 at 08:52 AM
I live in California and want to know if any store carries the pulque in So.Calif.There are alot of people from mexico here,so I thought there might be a market for it ...but I haven't found it. Please let me know where I can get it or if I can buy it thru e-mail.Thanks Sylvia
Posted by: sylvia melgoza | October 08, 2007 at 06:25 PM
I am also looking for Pulque in southern calif. I live 30 miles east of los angeles in the pomona area.Where can I purchase it.
thanks
ronnie
Posted by: ronnie reynoso | October 08, 2007 at 10:45 PM
Does anyone know where,what store or distributor, in texas they sell it or what distributors sell it, i want this product even if i have to go to texas but i need to know where, or who to contact any name and/or phone,address will be hepfull
Posted by: Sergio | October 28, 2007 at 08:30 PM
If you're willing to drive to Texas, I hear that this place has a great selection and might be worth a call:
Spec's Liquor Warehouse
Neighborhood: Midtown
2410 Smith St
Houston, TX 77006
713) 526-8787
Posted by: JB | October 30, 2007 at 03:06 PM
I found some pulque in chicago.
Posted by: oszo | August 05, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I found some pulque in " LA Vinata" on cermak, I dont know the exact address but is between california and kedzie on cermak.
Posted by: oszo | August 05, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Oszo is right... if you're looking for pulque, La Vinata, is the right store. I am one of the owners; we have three kinds, you can buy it in a can or in bottle. We also carry over 200 different tequilas... visit us at
La Vinata
3124 West Cermak Road
Chicago IL 60623
Tel 773.521.0280
Posted by: Ramon | August 21, 2008 at 11:39 PM
On September 6th-7th in Mineral de Pozos, Mexico. There is the 2nd annual Noples and Maguey festival. Pozos is 45 minutes northeast of San Miguel de Allende. They will have samples of different regional dishes made with Nopal cactus. There will also be sampling of Pulque, Mezcal and Quiote all made from the Maguey cactus. There will also be live music, regional dances, herbal medicine workshops and lots of cacti to be adopted. For more information go to http://whatshotinsanmiguel.com/blog
Posted by: Javier | September 04, 2008 at 04:40 AM
If anyone knows of a little shop that sells Pulque aound Southern Cali please e-mail me.
Posted by: Leo Sanchez | March 26, 2009 at 01:58 PM
If you know of any places that sell pulque in or around southern california please email me @ assasinleo420@yahoo.com my name is Leo
Posted by: Leo Sanchez | March 26, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Somebody knows if i can buy Some pulque here in Detroit...??????????? THX..
Posted by: ITzKil | May 15, 2009 at 01:42 AM
i need pulque here in utah
Posted by: aztlan | August 31, 2009 at 01:26 AM
Did anybody find pulque? I've tried the authentic and raw kind in Guanajuato, Mexico. I know the canned version won't be as good, but 2 whole agonizing months without pulque is KILLING me!!!
Posted by: Guno Gerk | February 25, 2010 at 02:40 PM
Devon Market... Devon between Clark and Broadway.
Posted by: Josh | February 25, 2010 at 04:58 PM