Chicha: South American Beer

Chicha is a fermented beer that has been shared throughout South America since pre-Hispanic times. A drink that brings people together, chicha is not only enjoyed for the taste, it also plays an important role in celebrations of life and death especially for the indigenous Mapuche communities of Chile. To understand chicha’s significance, it is important to know its history, production process including the types of foods used to create the beverage; the regions in South America where chicha is found and enjoyed as well as the role chicha plays in communities, mainly for the Mapuche people within Chile.