Did you know that the fruit of Crataegus mexicana is a main ingredient used in ponche the traditional Mexican punch that is served at Christmas and on New Year's Eve?

Tejocote - Mexican hawthorn - Crataegus mexicana

Crataegus mexicana is a species of hawthorn known by the common names tejocote, manzanita, tejocotera and Mexican hawthorn. It is native to the mountains of Mexico and parts of Guatemala, and has been introduced in the Andes. The fruit of this species is one of the most useful among hawthorns.

Tejocote, the Mexican name for this fruit, comes from the Nahuatl word texocotl which means 'stone fruit'. The alternative (and ambiguous) name manzanita means 'little apple' in Spanish. The generic name, Crataegus, is derived from a Latinized Greek compound word literally meaning 'strong sharp,' in reference to the strong wood, and thorny habitus of several species.

The plant is  native to Mexico and Central America but introduced in other parts of South America, where it usually grows in open forests and thickets, at elevations between 1500 and 2700 m. It is a large shrub or small tree growing to 5–10 m tall, with a dense crown and can form dense thickets.

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