Tequila is a distilled Mexican alcoholic drink made from blue agave juice. It is a popular drink at beach parties and wild bachelor parties that last until the early morning hours. The flavor and aroma perfectly portray the spirit of Mexico: daring, refined, lavish, powerful, and delicate. The probability that the drink’s real secret lies in the manufacturing technology is very high.
The drink’s intensity ranges from 38 to 40 degrees. Even though it’s neither expensive nor particularly tasty, it is a very popular drink among young people. Some say that tequila intoxication differs from intoxication with other drinks in that the body becomes vivid and vibrant.
How is Tequila Made?
The beverage is made from the fruits of the agave plant, which grows in tropical climates and has thick, long leaves. In Mexico, agave is considered a relative of the cactus because of its thorny leaves.
Back in the past, wild agave was used during the production process, but nowadays, only one variety of plants is cultivated by a lot of Mexican farmers – the blue agave. Only the “piña,” the fruit’s heart, which resembles a huge pineapple, is used for commercial purposes. Unprocessed agave can weigh up to 50 kilograms. A single plant can yield up to 8 liters of pure tequila. Click https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-tequila-is-produced-4064741 to learn more about the production process. These are fascinating figures for us, but hard work for the Mexicans.
A tiny sprout of blue agave can take a long time to mature into a tasty cocktail. It takes 7-12 years after planting for the agave to be used for production. Only then does the fruit accumulate the necessary amount of aromatic juice. For the production, yeast, water, and sometimes sugar is used.
How to Drink Tequila?
Almost everyone is familiar with the classic way to drink this beverage. Besides the drink itself, all you need is salt and a lemon wedge. The salt is placed between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. Lick it straight from the hand, take a gulp of the drink and eat it with a lemon (ideally lime). The glass needs to be drunk in one gulp.
For those who find this method too strong, a sweeter version also exists. The lime is replaced with sweet orange, while the salt is with cinnamon powder. The technique is the same: lick the cinnamon, wash it down with tequila, and eat an orange slice. Click this link to discover more about different drinking techniques. This way of serving the drink is very popular in Germany.
Tequila is served in long, thin glasses with thick bottoms. “Horse” – Caballito – is the name given to these types of glasses.
Different Types of Tequila
There are two main types of Mexican tequila available on the market:
Tequila 100% Agave – A drink with this label is made entirely of blue agave juice. This is authentic tequila.
Mixed tequila – Other ingredients, such as alcohols from other crops (cane or corn), in addition to blue agave, are used in the production. According to Mexican law, 51% of the alcohol must be derived from the agave plant.
In addition to these two, a couple of other varieties also appear:
Tequila Silver (Plata or Blanca) – This is a pure blue agave with a natural aroma and sweetness and an intense taste. Bottled right after fermentation, the drink cannot be aged more than four weeks or, in some cases, two months. If you want to find out more information about Blanco tequila meaning, there are various articles online.
Tequila Gold – Pure gold tequila can be created by bringing together silver and reposado or tequila añejo. Just be aware that cheaper brands may use a marketing technique that involves adding coloring to their gold tequilas to deceive consumers’ perceptions.
Reposado – meaning “rested,” refers to tequila that has been spent no less than two months in a barrel. If you are a fan of vanilla, butter, or caramel, this type of drink will wake your taste buds.
Añejo – also known as mature or old tequila, refers to a drink that has rested for more than a year in a barrel. It has a rich taste and color.
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