Tasting and
Gastronomy Tours

Two new options for things to do in Merida are the Tasting and Yucatecan Gastronomy Tours that are up and running. On these two tours you will have the opportunity to visit one or two 17th Century haciendas located in and near Merida and partake of the liqueurs and foods of the Yucatan. The Tasting Tour takes place at the 17th century hacienda artisan distillery Aristi and the Gastronomy part takes place at the renowned Hacienda Teya.

For the past decade, the upscale thing in tourism has been the restored haciendas that turned into hotels and restaurants. Magnificently restored, the many hacienda hotels in the Yucatan have made it possible for visitors to live like a comfortable Yucatecan hacienda owner from centuries past.

Haciendas were actually product producing industries when they were created centuries ago. There were henequen sisal fiber haciendas, cattle haciendas, sugar cane haciendas, mining haciendas (in the north of Mexico), etc. The new kid on the block in hacienda options are the working haciendas or industry haciendas. They can be visited on day trips. The working haciendas have no accommodations for sleeping; they just offer the opportunity to see a real, working hacienda.

Hacienda Vista Alegre, located right in the city of Merida, is where the prestigious and important production of Arisit Caribe rum and tropical, exotic fruit liqueurs and fruit preserves takes place. The hacienda, where the owner actually lives, is a gem in its architecture and gardens.

When you visit the distillery and tour the installations, you will see all the people actually working – filling bottles, putting labels on them, painting the handcrafted bottles and packaging. You will be seeing a normal everyday workday – not a crafted show.

The Caribe rum that Aristi produces won 3rd place in an international rum show in San Francisco, California in 2003. Their X-Tabentun also won 3rd place in a cordials contest.

The claims to fame at Aristi are their X-Tabentun and fruit liqueurs or cordials. X-Tabentun (pronounced ish-tab-en–toon) is a delicious liqueur made from Yucatecan honey and anis. The fruit liqueurs include peach, banana, guanabana, and nance after dinner cordials.

Above: A shot of tequila with lime.

One of the highlights of the trip is visiting the salon where they produce the individually handcrafted artisan bottles. The nance liqueur is especially impressive with clay Mayan gods crafted on the outside of the bottle.  The bottle of coconut liqueur is adorned with seashells and henequen fiber sisal. The X-Tabentun bottle is painted a mottled blue. All these bottled liqueurs make great gifts. You can even have the bottles personalized – leave your order and when the tour is finished, your personalized bottles will be waiting for you. Average price is under $20 dollars. These are great gifts and are particularly popular for conventions and groups.

From the distillery you will be guided into the gardens where you will see trees and plants that are used in traditional medicines, furniture and other uses. The path from the gardens will guide you to the fun part of the tour - the tasting experience and wholesale shopping. If you have chosen just the Tasting Tour, from here you will return to your hotel after the tasting.

If you chose the Tasting and Gastronomy Tour, you will now board the bus and head to the award winning hacienda Teya where Merida’s most exquisite Yucatecan food is served. Visitors to Teya include Queen Sofia of Spain, Bill and Hilary Clinton, the dukes of Luxembourg along with many Mexican personalities.

Yucatacan cuisine is known for having the finest most diverse culinary tradition in all of Mexico. On this tour, you will have the chance to try the best of the best in a 4-course meal.