Foods of the Maya

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Foods of the Maya

• SBS 248/348 Ancient Maya Civilization
• Professor Rueben Mendoza
• FALL 2003
• Deanna Byfuglin
• Ricky Maldonaldo
• Trinity Shamrell
• Soeun Sieng

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History of the Maya Foods

• The Ancient Maya Diet was based on a variety of
  foods such as beans, Chile peppers, and squash
  foods.
• Harvested plants such as manioc, avocado, papaya,
  watermelon and cacao trees.
• Raised bees in hollowed out logs for honey.

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History of the Maya foods

• Deer, wild turkey, duck, armadillo, peccary,
  quail, monkeys,turtles, and iguana were some
  types of animals hunted by the ancient Maya.
• Used bows and arrows, spears, darts, and blow
  guns for hunting animals.
• Used nets, hook and line to fish and slash and
  burn for agriculture.

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Maize Corn in the Maya Culture

• Maya Maize God which was worshipped to ensure
  good harvest.
• Human Perfection has flawless features with
  abundant silky corn hair which signified bounty
  and plenty.
• The ear of corn are long and tapered to a point.
  The Maya treasured this so they would bind the
  forehead of an infant to achieve the long tapered
  forehead look.

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• Corn was the core of Maya cuisine and was used
  in making masa and variety of foods such as corn
  cakes, tamales, tortillas and drinks like
  atole.
• Corn was prepared by the hard kernels being
  boiled in water and white lime to make hominy.
  This is ground into masa, dough, which is
  generally used to make tamales or tortillas.

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Origins of Chocolate

• The word cacao, comes from a Greek genius meaning
  food of the gods.
• The seeds were of great importance socially
  religiously, and economically.
• Theobroma cacao, the chocolate tree, bear seeds.
  When the cacao is processed it becomes known as
  chocolate.
• This was a sacred drink for the elite and may
  have originated from the Olmecs.

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How chocolate is used

• Used in drinks, food, and as money.
• Chocolate is made by mixing a paste ground from
  cocoa beans with water. The unsweetened
  chocolate liquid was poured from one container to
  another to get a frothy drink.
• Evidence from previous finds, such as cocoa
  containing vessels and hieroglyphics suggests
  that cocoa has been used since BC 1500.

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Chocolate and sacrifice

• Chocolate was associated with human blood. It
  was considered to be the blood of the earth.
• The Madrid Codex one of the four Mayan books,
  depicts four gods piercing their ears and
  scattering showers of blood of the cacao pods
  with the text that specifies the offerings of
  cacao beans.
• Blood letting of both humans and animals was
  common on cacao plantations during festivals
  honoring the gods.

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Sacred uses of cacao

• Used for baptism for anointing children.
• Used in betrothal and marriage ceremonies by
  nobles and wealthy Mayans.
• Used as a sacred chocolate drink put into special
  clay effigy god pots put on an alter in a
  special worship house.

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Recipe for xocatl Hot Chocolate

• 2 ounces (squares) bitter, unsweetened bakers
  chocolate
• 1 cup hot water
• 3 tablespoons honey (miel)
• Dash of salt
• 3 cups hot water
• 4 sticks cinnamon bark (canela)

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Recipe for Tamales

• Corn husks or banana leaves
• Masa
• Meat such as pork, turkey, or peccary
• Chiles
• Optional vegetables such as potatoes, olives, and
  cactus strips
• For sweet tamales you can use Fruits, nuts,
  sweet beans

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References Cited

• BOOKS
• Bladholm, Linda. 2001. Latin and Caribbean
  Grocery Stores Demystified. Los Angeles
  Renaissance Books.
• Coe, Michael D. 1999. The Maya. London Thames
  Hudson.
• Coe, Sophie D., and Michael D. Coe 1996. The True
  History of Chocolate. London Thames and Hudson.
• Coe, Sophie D. 1994. Americas First Cuisines.
  Austin, Texas University of Texas Press.
• Miller, Mary Ellen. 1999. Maya Art and
  Architecture. London Thames Hudson.
• Ortiz, Elisabeth L., 1998. The New Complete Book
  of Mexican Cooking. New York, New York Harper
  Collins.

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References Cited

• WEBSITES
• http//car.utsa.edu/mayarecipes.htm
• http//www.halfmon.org/chile.html
• http//avilatours.ca/suninvestmayantemples.htm
• http//www.kstrom.net/isk/food/r_choc.html
• http//www.dirla.com/hondurasmaya.htm
• http//www.texmextogo.com/TMForum/_disc2/000000a3.
  htm
• http//www.geocities.com/NapaValley/6454/chocolate
  .html
• http//www.fuegonuevo.com/ingredients/maize.html
• GRAPHICS
• http//darwin.nmsu.edu/molbio/plant/maize.html
• http//www.lamejor.com/html/recipes/pics/tamales.h
  tm
• http//www.mexconnect.com/mex5F/recipes/puebla/kg
  tamales.html
• http//www.rnw.nl/special/en/html/chocolate010709.
  html