Which animals did aztecs eat

What did the Jaguar mean to the Aztecs? Along with the Aztecs and Mayans, the Inca also built temples to the jaguar. The jaguar is representative of power, ferocity, and valor; he is the embodiment of aggressiveness. For some, the jaguar represents the power to face one's fears, or to confront one's enemies. Did Aztecs eat meat? Aztec food also included beans and squash.

The Mexicas domesticated bees for honey, and turkeys for meat and eggs, also dogs and duck. These various types of meat made up only a very minor part of the Aztec food that was eaten. Large amounts of algae were collected from the surface of the Texcoco Lake water. Did Mayans eat tacos? Corn tortillas make a hearty addition to meals ranging from roasted meats and vegetables to basic rice and beans. Fresh handmade tortillas are still in high demand in modern times because they are a delectable part of foods such as enchiladas and tacos, and are even sometimes enjoyed with nothing but fresh salsa.

Did the Mayans eat meat? The Maya peoples ate a variety of foodstuffs including a wide variety of fruits, duck and bird eggs, squash, beans, maize, tomato, papaya, chili peppers, cacao, and avocados. Deer, monkey, fish, shellfish, dog, guinea pig and other animals made up the majority of the meat consumed in the Maya world. Did the Incas have chocolate? The Inca didn't have cacao. Like among the Maya, cacao was made into a beverage that was either spiced with chili or sweetened with honey.

It was popularly consumed by the elite. However, cacao consumption was not as regular among the Aztecs as it was among the Maya. What did Aztecs drink? Who invented chocolate? They were served at every meal. The beans would be soaked in water for several hours and then boiled until they were soft. They would sometimes be mixed with other vegetables to make a soup or stew. The most important fruit and vegetables were chilli peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and avocados.

Squash was also extremely popular, including courgettes and pumpkins. The seeds were eaten fresh, dried or roasted. Red and green tomatoes were often mixed with chilli in sauces or as filling for tamales. The Aztecs also ate various mushrooms and funghi, including the parasitic corn smut which grows on ears of corn. The main fruits consumed were guavas, papayas, custard apples, zapotes, mamey and chirimoyas.

The Aztec diet was mostly dominated by fruit and vegetables, however they did eat a variety of fish and wild game. Rabbits, birds, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, green iguanas, pocket gophers and insects and their eggs and larvae all served as valuable food sources.

The Aztecs also ate domesticated turkeys, duck and dogs, and at times larger wild animals such as deer. These, however, were eaten only on rare occasions. Chilli peppers, which came in a variety of species, were often dried and ground up for storage and use in cooking.

The Aztec cuisine featured a significant number of flavours, including sweet, fruity, earthy, smoky and fiery hot. An illustration depicting elderly Aztecs smoking and drinking pulque Credit: Codex Mendoza.

The rich made a point to not drink pulque. Made up of 8 parts water and 6 parts maize with lime, the mixture would be cooked until softened and thickened. Alcoholic drinks were made from fermented maize, honey, cacti, pineapple and other plants and fruits. Drinking was tolerated, even for children, however becoming drunk was absolutely not acceptable.

The penalties could be severe, even more so for the elite. A commoner would be punished by having their house destroyed and sent off to live in a field like an animal. A noble could be executed for drinking too much alcohol for their first transgression. The cocoa bean was highly treasured and of high symbolic value in the Aztec Empire.

The other constants of Aztec food were salt and chili peppers and the basic definition of Aztec fasting was to abstain from these two. The other major foods were beans, squash and New World varieties of the grains amaranth or pigweed , and chia. In ancient Mexico, the dog, turkey, and duck were the only domesticated livestock; sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, and horses were introduced by the Sapnish. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search.

Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis April 23, What kinds of animals did the Aztecs raise to eat Did they have any kind of work animals? What kind of food did the Aztecs eat? Did the Aztecs eat corn? Did Aztecs eat cheese? Did the Aztecs drink alcohol? What fruits did the Aztecs eat?