Many plants consumed in Mexico are not only are food crops used in Mexico and Mesoamerica, they also serve a variety of uses for folk art and textiles.
For example, the fibers of the maguey cactus can be used in weaving baskets, rope and clothing. The famous tilma (a large cloth shirt, or sarape) of Juan Diego that bears the miraculous image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was supposedly made of maguey. This maguey fiber was used by the peasant class in Aztec society for their clothing, as cotton was only reserved for the ruling class. See this site about the Virgin of Guadalupe for more information. The maguey cactus provides the beverage pulque and agua miel. It is also used for wrapping meats when cooking.
Sandals from various plant fibers including maguey are also used today. The Nahuatl word for sandals is cactlis, and they were tradtionally used only by the higher social classes in Aztec society. Additionally, Amaranth was thought be used to make sculptures of Aztec gods. Today, amaranth is used to make colorful and playful designs for the Day of the Dead.
In modern Mexico, varieties of seed pods from leucaena trees, (called guajes in Mexico) are used to make jewelry and various kinds of folk art. This colorful fish was made from a guaje and small clay sculptures attached to the top. It also doubles as a rattle as the seeds are still inside. Many of these seeds also serve as medicinal teas and food. See this site from Purdue University for more information.
Moreover, beans, corn and other seeds are often used to make large religious sculptures and murals during festival time. The variety of beans and seeds serves as a huge palette of color for these creative designs. This is a sample photo of a huge bean and seed mosaic that can be seen in the city of Tepoztlán, in the state of Morelos.
