All stories

Pilar

Die Brauerin

In der Brauerei der Quechua-Kolonie am Stadtrand entsteht ihr Bier aus Gerste und Hochland-Tradition.

The story

Pilar stands before the vat, her overalls unbuttoned and her torso bare. Steam settles over her shoulders like a second skin. It is still cool outside, while inside, light filters through the old windowpanes. She stirs the mash once, slowly. A single drop falls onto the stone floor and evaporates instantly.

The setting

Rust-red stone walls, a slanted skylight, the boiler wall steaming lightly, wooden beams casting shadows across the floor.

Who she is

Die Brauerin

Pilar is 39, living in a small Quechua colony on the outskirts of town with her uncle and three neighbors. In the mornings, she manages the first mash, and in the afternoons, she repairs valves. The photographer comes from the municipal cultural office to capture craftsmanship in images. She said yes with a smile, provided her jeans are not completely stripped off.

Her world

Chicha de jora, also known as aqa or aqha in Quechua, is a fermented corn beer tradition from the Andes, consumed primarily in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.[3][8][10]
In the Inca Empire, selected women learned the art of brewing in the Aqlla Wasi, the houses of the chosen, where Chicha was produced in enormous quantities for rituals and state festivals.[1][5][10]
The production of Chicha was, and remains, a distinctly female craft in many Andean regions, opening political and social spheres for women as chicheras, as they control both production and service.[8][10][11]

A short glossary

Chicha de jora: Traditional, fermented Andean corn beer, made from germinated corn and fermented for several days, often in large clay vessels.[3][8][10]
Aqlla Wasi: House of the Chosen in the Inca Empire, where selected women learned, among other things, the brewing of Chicha for ceremonies.[1][5][10]
Chichería: A simple establishment for serving Chicha, frequently a room with wooden tables and a clay floor, recognizable by a red flag in front of the house.[7][9][10]
Maíz jora: Germinated, dried corn that serves as the base for the Chicha de jora wort.[3][6]

Sources

Start this shoot (18+) Back to the shoots