Precolumbian Yucatecan Mayan Mead

[gavinonymous]

There seems to be evidence of a history of Mayan ritual consumption of psychoactive alcoholic beverages - notably fermented honey. The honey itself was collected by stingless bees from a species of psychoactive flower, and apparently imparted those properties to the drink. Scientific research shows that certain gluco-alkaloids (presumably those made by the enzymatic reactions of bees) were found to have narcotic effects in frogs and mice.

"According to Mayan history, meliponine bees—native to the tropical forests of Mexico's Yucatán peninsula—symbolize a link to the spirit world, a bequest of the god Ah Muzen Cab. "

There is mention of tombs shaped like beehives, and images of the bee winged deity - Ah Muzen Cab, presumably the patron of honey producing Tulum. There is an Aztec god of similar name Xmulzencab - god of bees.

In this journal article preview there's a mention of mayan use of honey made from psychoactive morning glory seeds (Turbina corymbosa aka Rivea corymbosa) though I haven't seen the entire article.

I've read that Turbina honey is also known as Cuban honey.

"This plant also occurs in Cuba, where it usually blooms from early December to February. Its flowers secrete copious amount of nectar, and the honey the bees make from it is very clear and aromatic. It is considered one of the main honey plants from the island. Known to natives of Mexico as Ololiúqui (also spelled ololiuhqui or ololiuqui), its seeds, while little known outside of Mexico, were perhaps the most common hallucinogenic drug used by the natives."

The seeds contain ergine (LSA), a compound similar in structure to LSD, but much less potent. Up to 100 morning glory seeds are required to feel a pronounced effect. Erowid has a little information on the effects of LSA.

More interesting is the link to Hoffman's discussion of the use of the plant in spritual ritual, healing, and visionary pursuits. Notably the article mentions that "Alcoholic extracts produced a kind of narcosis or partial narcosis in frogs and mice. Certain chemical reactions seemed to suggest the presence of a gluco-alkaloid. "

I might just have to take a trip down to Cuba and see if I can find some of this honey and bring it home. Anyone know of restrictions on bringing honey to Canada from Cuba?

 

[wildaho]

Interesting stuff. I'm always interested in different herbal effects.

At least you CAN bring stuff back from Cuba. That honey might be hotter than cigars in the States!

 

[EverGreenman]

thanks for the info gavin!

::makes mental notes::

I've been intending to do some experimentation with the use of roobious and wormwood, and possibly mimossa habillis and turbina in meads...

:hippy2:

I shall keep you updated...

 

[capoeirista13]

isnt wormwood poisonous?

 

[EverGreenman]

it can be. but so can water.

it's the key psychoactive ingredient to Absinthe.

so I figure in the right (very small!) doses it will be quite allright

all things in moderation.

 

[Vino]

I might just have to take a trip down to Cuba and see if I can find some of this honey and bring it home. Anyone know of restrictions on bringing honey to Canada from Cuba?

Actually Cuba exports a lot of honey, so getting it won't be the problem...the issue would seem to be getting honey from that particular flower...not sure they would label it that way.

If the psychoactive affect is what you are trying to replicate, wouldn't it be easier to rack the mead onto the seeds (like oak cubes)...now that would be a good reason to consider bulk aging.

The seeds can be purchased online legally, however the DEA considers LSA a Schedule III substance...so your intent should NOT be to ingest them

I also believe the plant grows wild along the Gulf Coast...maybe I can spare a couple of hours for a road trip...gas is down below 2$.

Vino

 

[gavinonymous]

it can be. but so can water.

it's the key psychoactive ingredient to Absinthe.

so I figure in the right (very small!) doses it will be quite allright

all things in moderation.

I used to make absinthe from good vodka, wormwood and anise. It was very effective, and people beat a path to my door to get some. Producing it legally is another story..

The liquor control board of Ontario (LCBO), our government monopoly alcohol supplier sets strict limits for Thujone (the supposed active ingredient in Wormwood)

Good idea about racking onto the seeds, but somehow, I think the eznyme reaction that the bees add is key. The seeds alone aren't that powerful, but possibly the gluco-alkaloid compound becomes more easily integrated into the alcohol suspension.

In drug delivery, the formulation is key to the effect of the compound. I have doubts that dissolving straight alkaloid in mead is nearly as effective as hijacking the gluco metabolism processes in humans to make the alkaloid much more effective. The bees must be important, as the ancient mayans might have just used the seeds instead.

 

[Vino]

Good idea about racking onto the seeds, but somehow, I think the eznyme reaction that the bees add is key. The seeds alone aren't that powerful, but possibly the gluco-alkaloid compound becomes more easily integrated into the alcohol suspension.

In drug delivery, the formulation is key to the effect of the compound. I have doubts that dissolving straight alkaloid in mead is nearly as effective as hijacking the gluco metabolism processes in humans to make the alkaloid much more effective. The bees must be important, as the ancient mayans might have just used the seeds instead.

The reason I suggested racking onto the seeds is that almost every reference to Ololiúqui (which translates “round thing”) refers to the seeds as the source of the psychoactive drug. Even Erowid which you reference discusses the seeds and methods for extracting the LSA, Both of the methods used to extract the LSA involved using Ethanol (also a psychoactive drug). So it would stand to reason that racking onto the seeds would result in some amount of LSA infused into the final product.

Maybe, the ritual of the Mayans included consumption of both the Mead and the seeds for a combined effect…or maybe they ground the seeds and added them to the fermented drink…If I even workout the kinks on that time machine…

Assorted References From Britannica online

· source of hallucinogenic drug ( in Convolvulaceae )
...(Ipomoea batatas) is an economic plant of the family, but the ornamental vines are used in horticulture; several species of bindweeds are agricultural pests. The seeds of two species, Turbina corymbosa and Ipomoea violacea, are sources of hallucinogenic drugs of historical interest and contemporary concern.

in drug use: Types of hallucinogens )
...region and the Middle East and also in a South American vine (Banisteriopsis caapi). There are some amides of lysergic acid contained in the seeds of two species of morning glory (Rivea corymbosa, also called Turbina corymbosa, and Ipomoea tricolor, also called I. rubrocaerulea or I. violacea). Synthetic compounds of interest are ...

· use in drug cults ( in drug cult: Other psychedelic substances )
Spanish missionaries to Mexico in the 16th century described, primarily in derogatory language, another psychedelic substance, called by the Indians ololiuqui and venerated highly. Ololiuqui has been identified as the seeds of the morning glory, Rivea corymbosa (also called Turbina corymbosa); the name has also come to be applied to another morning glory, Ipomoea tricolor...

· variety of Turbina ( in Turbina )
...native in tropical America and Southeast Asia, belonging to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Of special interest is the woody stemmed perennial climber known to the ancient Aztecs as ololiuqui (Turbina corymbosa), the brown seeds of which were used by priests to induce visions.


From Entheology.org
Ololiuqui is the Aztec name for the seeds of certain convolvulaceous plants which have been used since prehispanic times by the Aztecs and related tribes, just as the sacred mushrooms and the cactus peyotl have been used in their religious ceremonies for magic and religious purposes. Ololiuqui is still used in our day by certain tribes, such as the Zapotecs, Chinantecs, Mazatecs, and Mixtecs, who live in the remote mountains of southern Mexico in comparative isolation, little or not at all influenced by Christianity.

An excellent review of the historical, botanical, and ethnological aspects of ololiuqui was given in 1941 by Schultes in his monograph "A Contribution to Our Knowledge of Rivea corymbosa: The Narcotic Ololiuqui of the Aztecs". The following information on the history of ololiuqui, its botanical identification and its past and present use have been taken mainly from Schultes' monograph.

One of the first descriptions and the first illustration of ololiuqui were given by Francisco Hernandez, a Spanish physician who between 1570 and 1575 carried out extensive research on the flora and fauna of Mexico for Philip II. In his famous "Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae thesaurus, seu plantarum, animalium, mineralium mexicanorum historia", which appeared in 1651 in Rome, Hernandez described and classified ololiuqui under the heading "De Oliliuhqui, seu planta orbicularium foliorum".

An extract of a free translation of the 1651 Latin version reads as follows: "Oliliuhqui, which some call coaxihuitl, or snake-plant, is a twinning herb with thin, green, cordate leaves, slender, green terete stems, and long white flowers. The seed is round and very like coriander."

In this work Hernandez claims that priests ate ololiuqui which induced a delirious state during which they were able to receive messages from the supernatural and communicate with their gods. He reported that priests saw visions and went into a state of terrifying hallucinations under the influence of the drug.

Reference: R. E. Schultes, "A Contribution to our Knowledge of Rivea Corymbosa: The Narcotic Ololiuqui of the Aztecs ", Botanical Museum, Harvard Univ., Cambridge, Mass., 1941.

In Mexico, Rivea corymbosa is known and has been known by a number of different vernacular names, the more important of which are: Aztec: oliliuhqui, ololiuqui, coaxihuitl, cuexpalli; Chinantec: a-mu-kia, huan-mei, huan-men-ha-sei; Maya: xtabentum; Mazatec: no-so-le-na; Mixtec: yucu-yaha; Zapotec: bador, badoh, bitoo, kwan-la-si, kwan-do-a; Spanish: flor de la Virgen, la señorita, manto, pascua, piule, semilla de la Virgen, yerba de las serpientes, y

Vino

I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once!

 

[Dan McFeeley]

In this journal article preview there's a mention of mayan use of honey made from psychoactive morning glory seeds (Turbina corymbosa aka Rivea corymbosa) though I haven't seen the entire article.

You can find the entire article here:

http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=16834

 

[Vino]

You can find the entire article here:

http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=16834

Thanks for the link, unfortunately Mr. Ott leaves the door open for either side of the discussion...and in the case of the Mayans even suggest psychoactive additives such as bark or seeds were included in the mead.

Vino

 

[EverGreenman]

bark likely is mimosa hostilis the plant used in conjunction with the banosteriopsis capi vine to make the brew ayahuasca. I've never heard of pairing mimosa and turbina I imagine that would be a pretty, um, rigorous journey?

Good idea about racking onto the seeds, but somehow, I think the eznyme reaction that the bees add is key. The seeds alone aren't that powerful, but possibly the gluco-alkaloid compound becomes more easily integrated into the alcohol suspension.

As far as turbina seeds go...one can eat the seeds by themselves for a pretty outrageous (and physically taxing) psychadelic journey. Thing is you HAVE to wash them multiple times, it's best to even grate away the outer casing, because there is some enzyme in the outer layer of the seed that makes for EXTREME nausea. Really unpleasant. But once that's out eating the seeds straight breaks open the mind pretty hard. Which makes me think that the bee's role in the enzyme reaction would be minimal, but helpful none the less!

Bee kind and respectful of nature and she will unveil many great truths.

My wonder turns to weather the yeast will eat away at the LSA compound along with the sugars in the Turbina honey (or the thulojin(sp?) in wormwood or the DMT is mimosa) or if it will only convert the sugars leaving the other stuff suspended in the brew? hmmmm. (not so patiently awaiting emails from friends travelling in Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Equador and Cuba)

 

[osluder]

bark likely is mimosa hostilis the plant used in conjunction with the banosteriopsis capi vine to make the brew ayahuasca.

Usually leaves from Psychotria viridis (chakruna) or Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga) are used along with the Banisteriopsis caapi (ayawaska) in the "traditional" South American decoction.

The root bark of Mimosa tenuiflora (or hostilis) is used in Jurema, a similar DMT-containing drink. Reportedly no harmala alkaloids need to be added to the M. tenuiflora decoction to make the DMT orally active though, i.e., no need for the B. caapi.

Here in South Texas we have our own version of M. tenuiflora also in the Mimosoideae subfamily, Acacia berlandieri (guajillo), source also of the wonderful honey. I was planning on making a Guajillo Sparkling Show Mead this spring. I might need to make that a Guajillo Metheglin this winter instead.

 

[EverGreenman]

osluder will you be my friend?

thanks for the corrections!!! I've heard of chakruna. Didn't know there was a subspecies of mimosoideae in the states! That's great! Up here in the northwest we have Canary grass that contains 5maodmt but requires proper extraction as far as I know.

Now is this guajillo honey the same as the Turbina previously discussed? Are there any, er, side effects? Whats the flavor like?

curious minds!

 

[osluder]

osluder will you be my friend?

Certainly! One can never have too many friends.

now is this guajillo honey the same as the turbina previously discussed? Are there any, er, side effects? Whats the flavor like?

This is not likely the same honey although the plants do have an overlapping range, so who really knows?

I have never heard of any side-effects from guajillo honey and probably would not expect any. As Vino mentioned earlier in this thread, the active ingredients seem to be in parts of the plants other than the flowers, e.g., seeds, leaves, bark, etc., and would require extraction hence my thoughts turning to metheglin.

All the examples of guajillo honey I have tried were "Grade A Water White", so almost clear in color. Both the aroma and flavor were delicate and floral with hints of lavender: Like a pretty girl walking by you on a spring day wearing just the lightest spray of perfume. <sigh>

 

[Vino]

Like a pretty girl walking by you on a spring day wearing just the lightest spray of perfume. <sigh>

Yummy! :tongue7:...I have an online inquiry pending for this stuff thanks to that graphical description.

Vino

 

[osluder]

In order not to hijack this thread, I have started a new thread related to all things guajillo/huajilla/huajillo in the Ingredients for Mead forum.

Back to the Rivea corymbosa...

As was pointed out, consuming R. corymbosa can cause nausea, perhaps not as bad as the infamous La Purga ("The Purge") of ayawaska, but I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to upchuck the "nectar of the gods". I suspect the seeds were taken and later the mead was consumed to settle the stomach or add to the journey.

 

[osluder]

Well, I had missed the link to the full text of the Ott paper provided by McFeeley earlier in the thread. Very interesting read. It is basically a literature survey, but with some mention of actual field work near the end. I was a little disappointed to see the references had all been stripped off when it was posted though. I will have to take a trip (so to speak) down to the local university reference library and see if I can find the original paper.

Based on what I read, I guess I need to retract what I said about eating the seeds and then drinking the mead. Ott cites a number of cases where the psychoactive components of the floral source were found in the nectar and indeed passed on to the resulting honey. I wonder where one could find the cannabis honey mentioned?