The Nectar Corridor
Food & Cooking Podcasts
The Nectar Corridor explores the incredible world of mezcal, the most emblematic and diverse spirit of Mexico. Oaxaca-based host Niki Nakazawa takes us on an intimate journey through agave (known as maguey) fields, distilleries and the history of mezcal with the folks who live and breathe the spirit. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Whetstone Radio Collective creates storytelling dedicated to food origins and culture, with original content centering the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. You can learn more about this podcast at whetstoneradio.com, on Twitter @whetstoneradio, on TikTok and Instagram @whetstonemedia and subscribe to our Spotify and YouTube channel, Whetstone Media, for more podcast content. You can learn more about all things happening at Whetstone at WhetstoneMedia.com. Learn about the extraordinary diversity of magueys and their roles in the ecosystem, experience fermentation and distillation of mezcal with producers in Oaxaca, and hear from conservationists, mezcal commercializers, farmers and historians about the past, present and future of mezcal. ¡Bienvenides y salud desde las tierras del maguey! To listen to the Spanish version, go to whetstonemagazine.com/el-corredor-del-nectar
Location:
United States
Genres:
Food & Cooking Podcasts
Description:
The Nectar Corridor explores the incredible world of mezcal, the most emblematic and diverse spirit of Mexico. Oaxaca-based host Niki Nakazawa takes us on an intimate journey through agave (known as maguey) fields, distilleries and the history of mezcal with the folks who live and breathe the spirit. The Nectar Corridor is part of Whetstone Radio Collective. Whetstone Radio Collective creates storytelling dedicated to food origins and culture, with original content centering the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. You can learn more about this podcast at whetstoneradio.com, on Twitter @whetstoneradio, on TikTok and Instagram @whetstonemedia and subscribe to our Spotify and YouTube channel, Whetstone Media, for more podcast content. You can learn more about all things happening at Whetstone at WhetstoneMedia.com. Learn about the extraordinary diversity of magueys and their roles in the ecosystem, experience fermentation and distillation of mezcal with producers in Oaxaca, and hear from conservationists, mezcal commercializers, farmers and historians about the past, present and future of mezcal. ¡Bienvenides y salud desde las tierras del maguey! To listen to the Spanish version, go to whetstonemagazine.com/el-corredor-del-nectar
Language:
English
Episodes
What Makes a Good Mezcal?
4/29/2022
In this episode, we speak with Cynthia Villalobos from Aventureros del Mezcal and Jesús Espina Ortiz from Archivo Maguey about their efforts to shine a spotlight on mezcal and the folks that make it.
Cynthia provides financial, educational and technical support in order to elevate independent mezcalero brands. And Jesús offers unique mezcal tastings using his knowledge and passion for design.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where...
Duration:00:36:33
The History of Pulque
4/22/2022
In this episode we talk with Raúl Guerrero about pulque, a maguey-based fermented drink that has its origins in pre-Hispanic times and has been consumed for more than 2,000 years.
Raúl is a cultural manager and researcher of pulque from the State of Hidalgo. Pulque comes from native Mexico, traversing many of the territory's historical periods, and in some ways, precedes mezcal as its older sibling.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where...
Duration:00:30:32
Mezcal Rituals with Asis Cortés and Mar de Cortés
4/15/2022
This episode we take a spiritual journey through the rituals that accompany mezcal. Niki meets with Mar de Cortés and Asís Cortés in their space called "Espiritus Mágicos" and together they examine mezcal culture from a different perspective.
The traditions of the peoples, families and origins of mezcal remain in those who care about creating a connection through rituals, extending respect for the culture and mezcal production through generations.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone...
Duration:00:25:00
Mapping Mezcal
4/8/2022
In this episode we explore two maps: one on the diversity of magueyes and mezcal traditions throughout Mexico (created, among others, by Jorge Larson) and the other on the productive regions of Oaxaca and their local magueyes (created by Rion Toal).
Both perspectives help us develop a better understanding of the great wealth of mezcal magueyes, landscapes, and traditions in Oaxaca and the rest of the country.
We invite you to follow along with the maps to better understand the...
Duration:00:33:46
From Mezcal "Expendios" to Mezcalerías
4/1/2022
In this new episode, we cover the history of mezcal from the mid-1900s to the present day. We speak with Félix Monterrosa, creator of the mezcalería "Cuish". Félix retells anecdotes of more than half a century of a family dedicated to mezcal.
The conversation touches on historical issues related to conflicts between mezcal producers/marketers and authorities. Niki and Félix dicuss the long history of prohibition, corruption and high taxes. Faced with these phenomena, there were different...
Duration:00:20:43
A Taste of the North - "Vinatero" Culture
3/25/2022
In this episode, we discuss regulation and current state of mezcal production, particularly in northern Mexico.
We speak with Luis Loya, founder of Nación de las Verdes Matas, where he sells traditional spirits from Sonora, Nuevo León, Durango and Tamaulipas.
We also speak with Diego Mayagoitia, a first-generation mezcal producer who lives in the state of Durango. Diego tells us about the importance of community organization in the face of the growing exploitation of wild agave for the...
Duration:00:27:17
The Nectar Corridor
3/18/2022
In this episode, we learn the significance of "the nectar corridor" and what it reveals about the relationships between soil conservation, agave, pollinators, and mezcal production. To explore these connections, we speak to conservationist Diana Pinzon and agronomist Mario Acevedo.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority...
Duration:00:28:53
What's in a Mezcal? - From Fermentation to Distillation
3/11/2022
In part two of "What's in a Mezcal?", we continue our tours with producers Eduardo Angeles and Cuca Cortez. We learn about fermentation, the native yeasts and friendly microbes that transform sugar into alcohol, and how each maker approaches distillation.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned content that centers the perspectives of global majority populations and diasporas. The...
Duration:00:25:42
What's in a Mezcal? - From the Field to the Oven
3/4/2022
What goes into making mezcal? In this first of a two-part episode, we learn about the life cycle of the agave plant, how they reproduce, how long they take to mature, and what their cooking process entails. We visit with producers Eduardo Angeles of Lalocura in Santa Catarina Minas and Cuca Cortez of mezcal Cortez in La Pila, Miahuatlan.
The Nectar Corridor is a part of Whetstone Radio Collective from Whetstone Media - where storytelling lives. Whetstone produces original commissioned...
Duration:00:19:26
Mezcal: It's Everything
2/25/2022
Welcome to The Nectar Corridor, a podcast where we explore the incredible world of mezcal. In this first episode, we consider what mezcal means to some of the people who have dedicated their lives to it. We speak with Sosima Olivera, Marco Ochoa, and Eduardo Ángeles about their family legacies, their relationships to the plants they work with, and how they have fought to preserve the mezcal-making traditions of their respective communities.
Sósima Olivera is a maestra mezcalera and...
Duration:00:35:12
Trailer - The Nectar Corridor
2/24/2022
Here’s a first look at what to expect from our new podcast, The Nectar Corridor, as narrated by host Niki Nakazawa (@nikinakazawa). The Spanish version is already out, but it will stream in English starting on February 25.
Duration:00:00:42