Mistela De Chimajá (New Mexican Christmas liqueur)

James Orndorf

Cochise County, Arizona, US

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This Christmas liqueur recipe using the Chimajá root, which grows wild in the southwest, was found in Erna Fergusson’s 1934 cookbook “Mexican Cookbook” a New Mexican cookbook.
While Chimajá root can be hard to find in stores the recipe is wide open to other light peppery/cilantro-ish/spicy under-flavor substitutions.
"After two weeks the drink is ready, but it improves steadily with age."
…we made it and it does!