Pichomel

Maguey pichomel is an Agave marmorata. The names pichomel, pitzomel, pichorra, and pizorra are all used to describe this varietal in the Mixteca Poblana region of Puebla. They are almost always wild-harvested, growing a bit smaller than Oaxacan Maguey tepextate, and having lateral white stripes that grow across the pencas. They also take significantly less time to reach maturity than Tepextate. Throughout the Mixteca Baja region, people have been using this agave for medicine for generations: the leaves are cooked and then juiced, and the resulting liquid is used as a remedy for coughs and also as a topical ointment for wounds.

Photo courtesy of our friends at Cinco Sentidos