24/07/2023
The calendar has spoken mi amigos! In the United States it’s NATIONAL TEQUILA DAY! So I say we all ignore the border and celebrate the day! But first let’s learn a little before we a sip a little.
People have been making tequila for centuries… it was once known as mezcal wine. In fact, tequila is mezcal, but mezcal isn’t tequila. That’s because tequila is distilled from a specific type of agave plant. Tequila owes its name to the Aztec language. The word comes from an ancient Nahuatl word, “Tequillan,” which means “place of tribute,” or possibly “place of work.” And did you know tequila is the world’s most regulated liquor. It can only be produced in five regions in Mexico—Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, and Jalisco, though the largest producer is Jalisco. The agave harvest is a labor of love and time. The plants take between 8 and 12 years to harvest and can grow as much as 7 feet tall. But only the agave heart is used to make tequila. The hearts of the plant, also known as the piñas, are cut out, cooked, ground down, and fermented to make tequila. During the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, patients were instructed to drink tequila with lime and salt to ease their symptoms. Today, tequila isn’t considered a cure, but might still help sooth sore throats, ease congestion and aid with sleep. Oh, and did you know tequila is also Gluten free!
Sip and Salud!
