It was only used in traditional festivals, spiritual retreats, to ask for a girlfriend’s hand or to cure illnesses.
One of the ancestral drinks of the Altos de Chiapas region is pox, which previously was only used in traditional festivals, spiritual retreats, to ask for a girlfriend’s hand or to cure illnesses, among the state’s indigenous communities.
Currently this drink has become popular and in San Cristóbal de Las Casas they have begun to add different fruity flavors so that people can enjoy it.
Pox means medicinal drink since they also use it for curative purposes, for “the evil eye” / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
Currently it is not only the pox to which flavors are added, but there are also so-called artisan creams that are also prepared by experts from this city.
Flor del Rocío Pérez Mazariegos, mixiologist and producer of artisan pox, in an exclusive interview for the Mexican Editorial Organization ( OEM ), points out that in San Cristóbal de Las Casas this traditional drink is extracted from a corn distillate, becoming very strong as it reaches to have between 38 and 40 degrees of alcohol.
“This drink is only prepared in the state of Chiapas where we handle the corn distillate, it is more familiar with whiskey’s because it is grain ferment and not sugar cane or agaves. It is an artisanal drink. Pox means medicinal drink They use it for healing purposes, for the evil eye, to ask for the hand of the girl or the bride. They also drink it to celebrate a saint or to ask permission for nature in a ritual. Most of the pox is made directly in the municipality of San Juan Chamula, although we already do it here in San Cristóbal combining it with different flavors such as blueberry, jamaica, passion fruit, nance, pineapple, guava, and we also handle Arabica coffee flavor from Tenejapa, Chiapas and the simple one that is quite strong,” he said.
It was only used in traditional festivals / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
He added that, without a doubt, those who try the fruity pox have reported that although it is strong, its flavor is so exquisite, which is why there are distributors in some markets and candy stores in this colonial city.
The Pox de San Cristóbal used as a medicinal drink in the Highlands of Chiapas / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
“The prices of the pox vary according to the size, there are from 50, 130 and 250 pesos, and even the intensity or degree of alcohol varies because there are some that are well fermented because they have already been prepared for months,” he said.
Its flavor is so exquisite, which is why there are distributors in some markets / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
He mentions that for the elaboration of this spirit drink you have to be very careful because it must be elaborated very well, for example the one from Jamaica that they have now is 8 months rested.
It was only used in traditional festivals / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
He said that although they have not exported outside the country, pox is becoming more and more popular and little by little it is distributed in various states of the republic where they were not aware of it before, but those who visit San Cristóbal have tried it and taken it and even send it to ask for.
The Pox de San Cristóbal used as a medicinal drink in the Highlands of Chiapas / Photo: Gilberto Morales | The Herald of Chiapas
Finally, he said that for everything that posh and its flavors are made, they can be found on Avenida Crescencio Rosas number 54, in the San Diego neighborhood of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, under the name Jovelenio Posh.
