Ready.. .Aim. . .Fire!

Nothing says “bar game” like throwing metal at gunpowder, right? 

Colombians are a breed of their own! Most countries try to keep gunpowder and alcohol far apart if not an illegal combination. But here in Colombia, it’s the national game, tejo!

Tejo is played mostly in rural parts of Colombia although tejo bars can be found in Bogota and other big cities. The “sport” originated with the Chibcha people in western Colombia. It is a modern version of a game that is over 500 years old called Turmeque which was played by several indigenous groups in Colombia.

A tejo field consists of two angled pits filled with hard clay.

These are placed about 100 ft apart (for locals) or 50 ft apart (for tourists).

In the center of the pits, wax paper triangles filled with gunpowder (“mechas”)  are placed.

Each player (there are two teams) has a 2kg weight to throw at the clay pit. 

Points are awarded for making your “tejo” (weight) stick and more points are given for hitting a mecha and causing an explosion!

The game is so popular and prevalent in bars that in June 2000, it was declared the national sport of Colombia by the Congress of the Republic!

The best part of the game? Playing is free as long as the team is buying beer! I’m not much of a beer girl, but they have a “beer” called Redd’s which tastes like a combination of beer and Sprite. So, I ordered a few of those and joined in the fun!

Not sure this could ever catch on in the US, but it is SO fun. When someone made a direct hit and the gunpowder exploded, I jumped. . . every time.  Kinda makes the Midwestern bean-bag toss seem a little lame. . .

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