Corn Beverage

Chicha: How the Andes Turned Corn Into Ceremony

Chicha, a traditional Andean beverage made from germinated, cooked, and fermented maize, served as a vital ceremonial offering, political instrument, and daily sign of hospitality in the Inka Empire and beyond. Its artisanal production, involving specific maize varieties and regional adaptations, continues to be a living thread of Andean culture.