Sustenance, pleasure and sin: the repression around the production and compsumption of chicha in the northeast of the New Kingdom of Grenade during the 18th century

Abstract

The chicha was one of the beverages that put in alert the viceregal government in the18th century, when its consumption enjoyed great acceptance in mestizo communitiesthat characterized ethnically the northeast of the New Kingdom of Grenade. To figureout its complex reality is necessary to consider the strong interest of the Crown indefend the aguardiente monopoly and repressed other alternatives of consumptionthat didn’t represent a benefit for the Real arks. In the end, the consumption of chichasurvived due to both the little effectiveness of the implemented measures and the lackof clarity and coherence of the different government levels. In consequence, and inspite of the enormous efforts to banish chicha definitively and to consider it a socialthreat, its recognition as a food for the low sectors and as an economic support forthose who commercialized it was achieved.

Keywords: chicha, alcohol, drunkenness, chicherías, social control, Colonial history