288 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



Mate is brewed by pouring hot water over a 

 pinch of the tea leaves held in the bottom of the 

 cup by a disk of wire netting to keep the liquid 

 clear of "grounds." Sugar is added. The tea is 

 drunk through a tube used as we do a straw for 

 lemonade. But there is a perforated bulb at the 

 base of the tube that strains the tea. 



PULQUE, THE BEVERAGE OF MEXICO 



The century plant is our most familiar plant 

 of the Agave tribe. In the dry air of the high- 

 lands of Mexico these fleshy-leaved, robust plants 

 seem to draw water from unknown sources, and 

 store it in their bodies. The Mexican digs a 

 hollow in the central stem, usually by cutting off 

 the flower stalk, and goes away. He returns soon 

 to dip out the accumulation of sweet sap, which he 

 calls "agua miel," sweet water. This is good to 

 drink. But after it ferments he likes it better. 

 It is then the bad-smelling, good-tasting pulque 

 the universal beverage of the people. Foreigners 

 object to the odor of spoiling meat. But even this 

 ^.does not long keep them from tasting, and really 

 liking, the drink, which can be had in various 

 stages of fermentation. 



