Pepito Aguas Frescas!

This tradition comes from the Aztecs, who crushed fruits, ground flowers and added water to quench their thirst during long journeys across the region.

Water was placed in a clay pot to keep it cool. In Oaxaca, long before ice was available, these clay pots were stored in drawers of humid earth. Chia seeds were placed on the ground next to the container and then, when the seed became a plant, they used them to decorate the clay containers.

In recent years, housewives have used inexpensive or nearly-ripe fruits. The freshness that this drink provided in the hottest hours of the day made it an important accompaniment to home and inn lunches.