Geographic Location

Tehuacán is located in the southeastern part of the state of Puebla, bordering to the north with Tepanco Lopez, Santiago Miahuatlan, Nicolás Bravo, and Vicente Guerrero, on the east by Vicente Guerrero, San Antonio Creek and Ajalpan, to the south San Gabriel Chilac, Zapotitlan and Altepexi and on the west by Zapotitlan, St. Maarten Atexcal, Juan N. Mendez and Tepanco Lopez.

Glyph of Tehuacán

 

This is the currently accepted glyph city of Tehuacán. It is based on the work of Felipe Franco's 1946 Geographic Indonimia Puebla State, same as inferred from the word Tehuacán, ie instead of gods or the sun.

(From "La Fortaleza Del Cerro Colorado Tehuacán Puebla," Galvez Mauricio Rosales)



The glyph is interpreted as follows: At the bottom you can see a gum with teeth, which means "place". The album is a solar symbol, or sacred. Hence, to be known as Tehuacán "City of Gods", "Place of those gods", "Place of those with God" or more currently "Sun City".

Tehuacán shield

 

 

The Shield of Tehuacán is made up of four quarters:

In the first quarter there is a black eagle on the nopal with two arrows in its right claw and another crossed by its legs, on the left side of the quarter are three maize with spikes of gold which the Indians call "Miahuatl", in a blue field.

In the second quarter it shows a Black Eagle in white with a golden beak putting one leg on a teponaxtle and the other lifting two clasped arrows. At the right side of the eagle an ayacaxtle or sonaja is playing an instrument and dancing with the Indians. Just below is a drum, on the left side are two teponaxcle and below sits a Quetzal feather.

In the third quarter there is a bush with a red flower on its outspread branches; in the native language the flower is called a "tlaxochitl". Below the tree is a bird digging up a flower, the tree is called a Mezquite. On the right side is a castle on a hill and near it there are white and colored stones, below the castle is a cave.
In the fourth quarter there is a decapitated head which is held up by a hand that is reaching out from the right side and is holding the head up by its hair, the left hand is also in the picture and is grasping an arc. In the midst of the four quarters the head of Chimalpopoca and as Cimera, the Virgin of the Conception.

 

Tehuacán history and signification the Tehuacán

 

Tehuacán: The meaning of the name Tehuacán comes from the words: TEO = god; HUA = possessive; CAN = place; which means "Place of gods". The shield of Tehuacán is made up of four parts (more about the Shield).

Originally a Native American settlement, it became officially a city in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1660. According to the archaeologist Richard Stockton MacNeish, the Valley of Tehuacán is the first place maize was ever cultivated by humankind. He arrived at this conclusion when he found over 10,000 teoscintle cobs in what is now known as the Cave of Coxcatlan.

 

In the late nineteenth century, the city was well known for its mineral springs. In fact, Peñafiel (now owned by Cadbury Schweppes), a well-known soft drinks manufacturer, extracts water from these wells for use in their products. Tehuacán also has an important cluster of poultry producers, making the city and its surroundings one of the most important egg producing regions in Mexico. [2]

 

After the NAFTA agreement had been signed, Tehuacán saw a flood of textile maquiladoras established in the city and surrounding areas. These textile factories principally put together blue jeans for export to companies such as The Gap, Guess, Old Navy, and JC Penney. At the height of the maquila (short for maquiladora) boom, there were an estimated number of more than 700 maquilas in town, including those that were operating from homes, often in secret. While this situation created a negative unemployment (zero unemployment) and the maquilas sought workers as far away as Orizaba and Córdoba in the neighboring state of Veracruz, it also created an urban and environmental nightmare. In one decade, Tehuacán went from being a town of 150,000 inhabitants to a city of 360,000. Although many maquilas have closed today, in 2007 there were still over 700 of them found in Tehuacán.[3] Due to the poverty of the families living in Tehuacán, child labour in the maquilas is common, and worker's rights are often exploited there. Additionally, chemicals such as caustic soda, chlorine, peroxide, oxalic acid, sodium bisulphate, potassium permanganate, and sodium hexametaphosphate are being discharged into the freshwater supplies by the jean laundries. Despite having new purifying technologies available at certain large facilities, they are still not being used the majority of the time. The water, which contains heavy metals such as mercury, lead, copper, zinc, chrome, cadmium and selenium is then used by the farmers to irrigate their land. The cost of environmental deterioration in 2002 was estimated to be $63 billion per year.[4]

 

Historically, the Valley of Tehuacán is important to the whole of Mexico, as the most ancient forms of cultivated maize known were found here by archeologists.

Tehuacán soft drink industries

 

Peñafiel Spring

It is fed by an underground stream that originates in the Pico de Orizaba or Citlaltépetl (Cerro de la Estrella) due to the melting glaciers of snow, another wonder hydrological arid valley Tehuacan and is the work of infiltration galleries dating from colonial times and even today some still producing water.

60 million years ago the valley of Tehuacán was sea, rocks and fossils are evidence of marine life.

The water that flows from our springs Peñafiel is the result of the melting of "The Holy Mountain" or "Pico de Orizaba" at various mileage of the water filters through layers of sub-soil water emerging as pure and rich in minerals before mineral water gushing from the region tells the story that the emperor Moctezuma I carried in vessels of Tehuacán mineral water to Tenochtitlan, to benefit from its properties.

This mountain has remained faithful to this arises the name Peña-faithful.

In 1928-1937 the company was founded "TEHUACAN springs, SA", to bottle and distribute bottled water in Mexico and abroad.

In the same year installed a bottling room in the tunnels where spring water to 11 meters deep located in San Nicolas Tetitzintla Tehuacán worked with 20 plant workers and two bottling machines pedal 3 bottles per minute once the product is bottled up by pulleys to the surface to be labeled manually and done that took the rail for distribution in Tehuacán and regions.

They end up bottling plant works two trains are installed bottling.

In 1980 the Monterrey Peñafiel acquires new systems and drafting work. In November relocates to the surface of the land where currently stand and pedal machines are replaced by a semiautomatic line with capacity of 60 bottles per minute 20 times faster than before with this team started producing flavored soda made with mineral water, those were the first brand QUEMON, EXTRA-POMA, PINOCCHIO AND GINGER ALE.

In 1948 change to "MANANTIALES PEÑAFIEL SA" with an installed capacity of 280 bottles per minute 3 bottling lines 150 workers and 15 employees. In these years is nationwide with distribution in 50% in country

In the 60's is recognized as the national leader in production and distribution of natural mineral water and flavored.

In 1992 the English group Cadbury Beverages, acquires the company and started the final moderation process dynamics, organization that ranks third in the world in the production and marketing of soft drinks within which is Peñafiel.

 

RIEGO

Located at the foot of the plateau irrigation. In the middle of the seventeenth century had a great flow, as supplied the extensive grounds of the estate of the same name, which was adjacent to the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary Coapan. A half of the nineteenth century this property was the family Acquire Mont.

This source is considered to be the cradle of the bottling industry in Tehuacán in 1901 as Mr. Joaquin Pita's first factory installed same year produced two thousand boxes of mineral water brand diamond with the help of a steam-engine of 15 horsepower. A year later Mr. Pita was associated with Anacharsis Peralta Requena to produce the brand Red Cross. This company was sold in 1903 to Mr. Lucindo Carriles from 1924 who joined forces with Joaquin Cordoba to produce the brand Covadonga. In 1933, this source would industrialize its waters under the signature of Arturo and Andrés de la Llave Zaplana, after the company was able to Tehuacán Irrigation springs.

 

 

 

Typical food Tehuacan

 

PAN of DONKEY

Water bread or white bread (pan de burro, represents the purity of the soul) is used as offerings for the day of the Dead

Ingredients:

* 3 cups white bread flour

* 2 1 / 2 (0.25 ounce) packages dry yeast

1 tablespoon salt

* 1 cup warm water

Preparation:

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix flour and salt. Add yeast and mix with a spatula until well blended. Cover with flour a clean surface. Knead at least ten minutes, until smooth and elastic (the consistency and texture of the dough).

2. Wrapped in a plastic sheet and leave in a warm place until doubled (about an hour). Put the dough on a lightly floured surface crushed to eliminate bubbles. Cut into 8 pieces. Form rolls make a split lengthwise with a knife. Place on an oiled sheet and let double in size.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.

MUEGANO

 

Ingredients:

1 kilo of flour

1 egg

¼ liter of water

50 grs. of brown sugar

400 grs. butter

Sal

FOR HONEY:

½ kilo of brown sugar

¼ liter of water

1 cinnamon stick

Procedure:

Mash well the brown sugar and dissolved in water.

Mix the flour, egg, brown sugar dissolved in water and a teaspoon of salt. Knead the dough well so that is consistent and extends through the roller to leave quite thin.

Cut dough into squares, fried in butter. Allowed to cool and get into the honey syrup.

To make honey, put water in a saucepan, brown sugar and cinnamon crushed, letting it boil until it holds strong ball.

Stick the cubes in groups of five, to form muéganos, which is left to dry on the table.

 

MOLE HIP

 

This delicious dish originating in the Mixtec Oaxaca and Puebla share is the result of a ritual that goes from pasture to slaughter the goats.

Ingredients:

1 set of hips and spine killing goat

1.5 kg. tomatillo or miltomate

Chile Costeño to taste

Onion to taste

Garlic

3 bunches of Colorado Guaje

1 bunch Pepicha

10 dried avocado leaves

Salt to taste

Oil to taste

Oil to taste

Preparation:

Boil the meat with garlic, onion and salt for three to four hours until meat is tender. Was withdrawn and reserved broth.

Apart little water is boiled in tomatoes with chilies and garlic to taste. Strain and reserve.

In a pan heat a little oil or a little fat from the broth, add the blended with a little broth and allowed to season, add the meat with the rest of broth, avocado leaves and the pepicha boil.

Peel the gourd and blended with a little broth and poured into the pan. Mole boil two minutes and serve hot.

 

Tehuacan typical drinks

 

Pulque ['pulke] is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant. It is traditional to central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, somewhat viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste.[1] The drink’s history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to certain classes of people.[2] After the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, the drink became secular and its consumption rose.[3] The consumption of pulque reached its peak in the late 19th century.[4] In the 20th century, the drink fell into decline, mostly because of competition from beer, which became more prevalent with the arrival of European immigrants. There are some efforts to revive the drink’s popularity through tourism.

MIXTECA

This region is distinguished as semi-desert, is located south-west of the town of Tehuacan and where populations are:

o   Zapotitlan

 

o   Caltepec

 

o   San Gabriel Chilac

 

o   San José Miahuatlan

Climate

Semiwarm climate with summer rains and low throughout the year, percent of winter precipitation over the year is less than 5, cool winter, average annual temperature between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius and the coldest month is below 18 º C. It covers a large area to the east.

Semidry temperate climate with summer rains and low throughout the year, percent of winter precipitation over the year is less than 5, hot summer, annual average temperature between 12 and 18 º C, the coldest month between minus 3 and 18 º C and the warmest month above 18 ° C, the climate is most prevalent, occurs south.

 

Flora

There are areas of secondary vegetation associated chaparral shrub, scattered throughout the municipality.

Rosetophilous desert scrub areas, which cover large areas, especially in areas that are not too rough. We present sometimes associated suviner thicket.

 

Fauna
Squirrels, skunks, eagles, rabbits, buzzards, bats, rattlesnakes, iguanas, deer

 

MONTAÑA

This region is in the highest place and cold in the municipality and is patron of the region "Our Lady of the Snows" and extensive vegetation dominated and most of the people who live there are engaged in the lumber yard, which most of this wood is pine and fir as well as its other activity is the embroidery and textiles.
This region is located north of the town of Tehuacan and where populations are:

*San Antonio Cañada

*Vicente Guerrero

*Nicolas Bravo

 Climate

Temperate sub humid with summer rains: The predominant climate of the municipality occupies Zongolica highland.

Humid temperate climate with abundant rainfall in summer: We present the Far East where proper begins the decline of Sierra Zongolica.

 

Flora

Are forests of pine and oak-pine, which have a deforestation process to open new lands for cultivation.

 

Fauna

In the area of animal life is made up of: rabbit, squirrel, skunk, hare, weasel ounce or, gophers, scorpion, pigeon, magpie, vulture, hawk, owl, bats, opossums, heron, mallard, coot, viper rattlesnake, coral snake, zencoata, chirrionera and a variety of wild birds.

VALLE

It is located at the ends of the north and southeast of the city of Tehuacán, which include the following towns:

o   Tehucan

o   Ajalpan

o   Coxcatlan

o   Zinacatepec

o   Altepexi

Climate

Semidry temperate climate with summer rains and low throughout the year, is the weather that occurs between the eastern part of the Tehuacan Valley and the foothills of the Sierra de Zongolica.

Fauna

There are different kinds of reptiles from snake as the hutch to lizard, frogs and mammals, from the largest and smallest coyotes to the field as rabbits, bats, and different types of birds such as sparrows, pigeons Tehuacanera, pigeons , owls, owls, hawks, vultures and even woodpeckers.

Flora

The flora is made up of cacti or cactuses characteristic of the region as well as the "elephant foot" nopales, reeds, mesquite, pitaya, different types of scrub and grassland.

 

 

SIERRA

In this particular region are virgin forests of the area and where vanilla is grown in a place called River Tezinzintepetl Tonto is as specified production that occurs in that area the rum, like the liquor "Lapo".
This region is located east of the town of Tehuacan and where populations are:

 

o   ZOQUITLAN

 

o   COYOMEAPAN

 

o   TLACOTEPEC DE DIAZ

 

o   ELOXOCHITLAN

Climate

 

 

Weather semiwarm humid with rain throughout the year: the weather is presented to the southwest and northwest

 

Flora

Most of its territory covered by forests of pine, montane pine-oak and oak-pine, these areas correspond to the higher parts of the Sierra de Zongolica. Clearly, however, the process of deforestation that is taking place to incorporate the land under cultivation can observe large areas of rainfed agriculture where once there were forests dedicated to planting corn, beans, peas and beans.

Fauna

 

There are deer, rabbits, hares, squirrels, armadillos, raccoons, opossums fox, and coyote, water snakes, rattlesnakes, coral snake, and mazacuata lever. Besides different kinds of birds like hawks, Tehuacanera dove, sparrow, swallow, Garza and owl.