What Is Pox? The Corn Spirit of the Chiapas Highlands
Pox (say "posh") is a distilled spirit from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, made mainly from corn, usually with sugar cane and sometimes wheat. The Tzotzil and Tzeltal Maya have poured it in ceremonies and used it in healing for generations, and its name is tied to the Tzotzil word for medicine.
- Say it
- "posh"
- Made from
- Corn, usually with sugar cane or piloncillo, sometimes wheat bran
- From
- Los Altos de Chiapas, the highlands around San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Strength
- Varies a lot. Some unflavored pox is 40% or more; ours runs 12–25%
- Tastes like
- Soft and slightly sweet, with dry corn notes
- Not to be confused with
- Mezcal, which is made from agave (pox vs mezcal)
How do you pronounce pox?
Say "posh". In Tzotzil, the language of the Maya communities around San Cristóbal, the letter x sounds like "sh". You will also see it spelled posh.
What is pox made from?
Corn is the heart of pox. Most producers ferment corn with sugar cane or piloncillo (raw cane sugar), and some add wheat bran, then distill the result. Some make two separate distillates, one from corn and one from cane and wheat, then blend and distill them again.
There is no denomination of origin for pox, unlike mezcal or tequila. That means no official rule says how much corn it must contain. Some bottles sold as pox are mostly sugar cane spirit, so it is worth asking what's in the glass.
Flavored pox is infused after distilling. On our bar there are nearly 30 flavors, including ceremonial, nanchi, peach, jocote, lime with chia, cacao with chile, cardamom, coconut, mango with chile and apple. See them on our pox page.
What does pox taste like?
Unflavored pox is soft and slightly sweet, with dry corn notes from the grain and a little sweetness from the cane. People often compare it to a light rum or an unaged whiskey. It is far less smoky than mezcal. Flavored pox tastes mostly of what it was infused with: fruit, cacao, coconut or chile.
How strong is pox?
Strength depends on the producer and the type. Some unflavored pox is bottled at 40% alcohol or more. Flavored pox is usually lighter. The pox we pour runs from about 12% to 25%, which makes it easy to taste a few side by side.
A short history of pox
Long before distilling arrived, communities in the Chiapas highlands made fermented drinks from corn or sugar cane for ceremonies and celebrations. Pox grew out of that tradition. It was valued as medicine, and healers drank it to reach a trance-like state.
The 20th century was hard on it. Landowners sometimes paid Indigenous laborers in liquor and kept them in debt. In 1949 Chiapas prohibited pox and other liquors, which closed small village stills, and a liquor monopoly controlled the trade until the 1970s. Until the early 2000s pox stayed small and mostly ceremonial. Since then a new generation of distillers has brought it to bars across Mexico.
Pox in Tzotzil ceremonies today
In Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities such as San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, pox is still part of births, weddings, funerals and healing rituals. Healers use it to cleanse the soul and ward off harm. At a ceremonial meal it is placed at the head of the table, the place of the ancestors, and the first round is shared with them.
That is the story behind every glass we pour, and it is what our team tells you in the free tasting: what pox is, and the customs around it in the Indigenous communities of Los Altos de Chiapas.
How to drink pox
- Straight. Small sips, nothing on the side. That's how we serve it.
- Side by side. Taste a few flavors next to each other to find your favorite.
- In a cocktail. The Mojito Pox and the Pox Tonic are two of our most popular drinks. See our cocktails.
Where to try pox in San Cristóbal
Pox is easiest to find in San Cristóbal de las Casas, the main town of the highlands. At La Independiente, on Real de Guadalupe 44, you can taste 3 of our 12 pox for free. It takes about 15 minutes, in English or Spanish, and you don't need to book. If you find one you love, bottles are for sale at the bar from $220 MXN.
Pox questions
How do you pronounce pox?
Say "posh", like the English word. In Tzotzil the x sounds like "sh".
What does pox mean?
The word comes from Tzotzil and is tied to medicine and healing. Healers in the Chiapas highlands still use pox in their ceremonies.
What is pox made from?
Mainly corn, usually with sugar cane or piloncillo and sometimes wheat bran. Flavored pox is infused with fruit, cacao, spices or chile.
Is pox the same as mezcal?
No. Mezcal is distilled from agave. Pox is distilled mainly from corn and has no agave in it.
How strong is pox?
It depends on the producer and the type. Some unflavored pox is bottled at 40% alcohol or more. The pox on our bar runs from about 12% to 25%.
How do you drink pox?
Straight, in small sips, is the classic way and how we serve it. It also works well in cocktails, like a Mojito Pox or a Pox Tonic.
Where can I try pox in San Cristóbal?
At La Independiente, Real de Guadalupe 44. You taste 3 of 12 pox free, in about 15 minutes, any time we're open. No booking.
Taste 3 pox free
Pick 3 of 12 at Real de Guadalupe 44, any time we're open. About 15 minutes, no booking.