Jicara

AKA, Cuastecomate

In Spanish jicara means both cup and gourd. In the mezcal world, a jicara is a small cup made out of the dried fruit of the Crescentia cujete tree, or treegourd. Since jicaras are round, it’s difficult to place them on a flat surface and keep your mezcal inside. Most people cup jicaras in their hands, which adds to the drinking ritual. Thankfully, there’s another solution to this critical issue: small woven holders keep jicaras stable on tables. Some people puncture the top and thread their jicara onto a string to create a ready-made mezcal cup necklace.