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Grana Fina — Piglet best kept secret in Oaxaca

Alvin Starkman MA LL.B.

Most tourists have no idea that only a few hundred meters from the main road, one or two minutes of the black pottery village, is one of the most fascinating than the state of Oaxaca has to offer children and adults. And most travelers have at least heard or read an excerpt about the red dye that comes natural a tiny insect and is used to color the rugs they buy in Teotitlan del Valle, and other products, including some of the foods and beverages we eat today … cochineal money, commonly known simply as the cochineal.

I suspect that from reading their guides or talking with tour guides and taxi drivers, often users are unaware of the importance of this little bug on the world stage over the centuries, or maybe they think it's enough to buy a carpet and is said to have been dyed with cochineal insects see and touch dry … instead of spending 40 or 50 minutes of horror. It would be different if they knew that during the conquest, mealybug with gold and silver was the most valuable asset known to mankind, and in 1758 exported more than 1.5 million pounds Oaxaca Spanish to Europe, Africa and Asia for a multitude of uses, including the death of tissues, including the uniforms worn by British nobility and chivalry.

Overall, Tlapanochestli environment known as a unique research center, museum, farm and outdoor learning is in Santa Maria Coyotepec, was a way land only 15 minutes from downtown Oaxaca. The attraction was designed to maintain the interest of travelers of all ages and backgrounds, from academic or professional layman.

Entering Tlapanochestli will be received by an employee working on the farm, or perhaps one of the two scientists who conducted research programs and education of Engineers Manual Loera Fernández and Ignacio del Río Dueñas. You will learn about the lifecycle of the cochineal, as it connects and is powered by a some variety of Nopal cactus, and their harvest and preparation for use as dye. Children and adults will delight and horror to have or experience an error or dried crushed palm of your hand in producing the red pigment. You will be because they do not teach all types of cactus are suitable for the production of cochineal, which are used to make salads, and varieties that produce sweet edible red fruit known as tuna, are sold seasonally in markets such as apples and oranges, and as often encountered as a sorbet flavor or fresh fruit juice.

But the journey is not just about insects and their host, but involves learning a number of other products used for dyeing natural fabrics and foods, such shell nut shells, oysters, pomegranate, marigold, moss, indigo plant onions and produced by our blues and indigo. The combination of some of these colors with the results of cochineal in a spectrum of colors even more. You'll also learn how to use the cochineal in combination with lemon juice or baking soda and with different colors of natural wool for the production of orange and purple pieces.

One can not help but marvel at the diversity of commercial products using cochineal as a dye, such as lipstick and makeup for those allergic or sensitive red and orange tones synthetic Danone yoghurt, Campari, and Campbell's soup, even. Often, the artists chose to use the natural resources of cochineal and other witnesses wall colors for your work and therefore adorned with examples of art created without the use of paints containing chemicals. The photos of Prince Charles in attendance Tlapanochestli is a testament to the world's continuing fascination with the historical significance and contemporary fine cochineal. In the shop there is a buying opportunity dry cochineal their own use, the ink from a bottle sealed with wax attractive, paints and bodies, yarn balls, detergent, and for children, perhaps painting a set consisting of dry cochineal to crush with a mortar of mud in miniature, along with pages to color with the address of the instruction sheet on how use the equipment and produce their own shades of red, orange and pink.

A short video set to the production of cochineal in their historical context using data, stories and mythology, along with color images, narrated in a language easily understandable to children. At the same time, those who have a background or interest in science have all your questions. The film describes the use of prehispanic pigments, the development of an internationally regulated industry drawing attention heads of state in the world of the forecasts of conquest, its importance in the global market as the dye brighter stronger and known to mankind, and mid-1800s decline in the invention of synthetic dyes and the consequent negative impact on the Mexican economy. Although the production and export of Oaxaca never recovered from the 19 century recessive factors, the video concludes with an optimistic note resurgence of documentation industry in recent decades, given the concern about the overall health of the continued reliance on synthetic chemicals to dye commercial products.

After his cinematic journey in history, and having learned about how natural dyes are produced and used in many applications, their perception not only in Oaxaca but also the world West has improved for all … if you are in Oaxaca to buy carpets, noting native vendors in a market or an order of ice cream, or sit in the comfort of your home and drinking a Campari and soda.

About the Author

Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ) .

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