THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME

The name quetzalli originates from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec people, meaning "showy feather" or "feathered tail ." This word is the etymological origin of both the name of the resplendent quetzal bird species and the name of the god Quetzalcoatl, a prominent figure in Aztec mythology.

These two figures - the quetzal and Quetzalcoatl - intertwine in the history of our drink, as you're about to discover: Aztec legend says that, in the beginning, the heavens were dominated by an evil goddess called Tzitzimtl.

At that time, she stole the light and left the Earth perpetually in darkness. Tired of this, Quetzalcoatl, god of light, air, and creation, transformed himself into a feathered serpent and took to the heavens to confront the goddess. However, instead of finding Tzitzimtl, he found her granddaughter, Mayahuel, the goddess of fertility, who was her prisoner. Quetzalcoatl, in love with Mayahuel, rescued the goddess, and together they fled to live their love.

To escape Tzitzimtl's wrath, the couple transforms themselves into a pair of trees, planted side by side so that when the wind blows, their leaves touch. Despite their best efforts, they are found, and Tzitzimtl kills Mayahuel.

WHY QUETZALLI?

When hearing the name Quetzalli, many people find it strange and don't even know how to pronounce it. We've lost count of the number of times people have suggested we change the drink's name to something simpler and easier to pronounce. We know that, at first glance, Quetzalli may not seem like the best name for anything, including a drink, because it's a strange and difficult word to pronounce. But believe me, this name is full of meaning and reflects much of what the product is and stands for . And once you understand it, we're sure you'll agree with us!

THE LEGEND OF TEQUILA

Devastated, Quetzalcoatl buries his beloved's remains and vows revenge on the evil goddess. He then kills her and becomes a hero by restoring light to Earth. But his grief does not diminish. Every night, he visits Mayahuel's tomb and weeps over it. Moved by his plight, the other gods decide to comfort him and create a magical plant, watered by Quetzalcoatl's tears, from the remains of Mayahuel's tree . This plant is the agave from which he would drink the elixir, tequila, to find the comfort he so desperately sought.

THE MEANING OF THE QUETZAL

The resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is a beautiful bird that inhabits the tropical forests of Mexico and Guatemala. Famous for its vibrant plumage, the male has a long tail that earned the species the nickname "feathered serpent." During the Mayan and Aztec empires, it was considered a sacred bird and represented the god Quetzalcoatl. Its feathers were used to make headdresses worn by rulers and also participated in rituals—without violence against the little animals! It is a peaceful bird that eats fruit and has a very unique breeding ritual. The male and female build the nest together, usually hidden inside a hollow tree. They take turns incubating the eggs, and when the male enters the nest to take his turn, he spins around and lets his long tail hang out of the tree.

The quetzal cannot survive long in captivity, dying of sadness inside its cage, and so it has become a symbol of freedom . One story also tells that the quetzal used to sing a lot, but that it fell silent with the arrival of the Spanish and the enslavement of Latin America, and that it will only sing again when the people are truly free again.

SO, QUETZALLI!

If you're smart, you've already noticed some points in these two stories that are part of Quetzalli's context, things that are present in our visual communication, verbal communication, and even in the product's principles and composition. But if you still have doubts, we're talking about tequila, mysticism and magic, freedom, fruits, love, equality, tropicalism, Brazil and Mexico, rituals, birds, nonconformity, and the fight for a great ideal. This all reflects the essence of Quetzalli.

So, have you fallen in love with Quetzalli yet? If you'd like to learn more, you can visit our homepage , or if you're already familiar with our product, we have several drink suggestions too!

In this post you will find recipes for easy drinks, and in this post we show you reinterpretations of famous cocktails using Quetzalli.