Government, Negotiation and the Coconut Liquor: the Town Council of Colima during the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

After a huge production of cocoa plantings during the Sixteenth century, the town of Colima in the New Spain lost this culturing because of climate difficulties and because of the preference that the Crown made on cocoa plantings in South America. For the benefit of its settlers, the arrival of “indios chinos”, an Asian community at the town of Colima permitted the development of a small industry based on a coconut drink —“vino de cocos”—, which became the most important economic activity during the Seventeenth century. Even when it was considered a “native drink” at first —and therefore forbidden— the town council of Colima was a fundamental institution in the negotiation with viceroys and the Real Audiencia of Mexico in order to get licenses that permitted not only its elaboration but also its distribution alongside a regional market.