What agave plant makes tequila?
blue agave
The juice of the blue agave, cultivated primarily in the state of Jalisco, is used to make tequila; other agave species are used to make mezcal, bacanora, sotol, and pulque. There are more than 300 agave species. An agave plant takes eight to 12 years to mature. The plant has a bulbous body called a pina.
How long does it take to grow agave for tequila?
around 7 years
Agave is the plant from which tequila is made. Growing agave for tequila takes around 7 years for the plant to reach maturity for harvest.
Can agave be grown outside of Mexico?
Agave Distillers, named after the Blue Agave plant used in Mexico to make the fiery liquor, is the first such operation outside the Latin American country. Since similar species of the plant grow in South Africa, the Karoo distillers have pounced on the opportunity to fill the gap.
Why is there an agave shortage?
An agave (tequila’s main ingredient) shortage is hitting Mexico as tequila demand has increased worldwide. According to Reuters, the plant’s price has gone up sixfold in the past two years. With demand so high, middle-of-the-night thieveries are becoming more and more common.
Is blue agave related to pineapple?
The heart of the blue agave is called the piña. And that piña is the same piña of piña colada fame! And tequila is made with the heart of the blue agave, which looks a lot like a pineapple. In an effort to get the heart of the blue agave to grow bigger, the leaves are trimmed when the plant is about a year old.
Is blue agave the same as agave?
Agave nectar and blue agave nectar are both derived from the agave plant, a type of succulent that grows in hot, dry environments all over the world. Blue agave, on the other hand, is agave that is cultivated, grown and harvested specifically for the tequila industry.
Can tequila be bottled outside of Mexico?
Mexico is actually the only place where tequila can be made, so Mexican tequila is the only type of true tequila available. “Anything else made with Blue Weber Agave outside these areas, or from agave that is not Blue Agave, is not legally tequila,” according to Vine Pair.