Both spirits are distilled from agave plants, but tequila can
only be distilled from certain agave plants. In order for a
spirit to be legally advertised as tequila, it must be made from
the Weber blue agave, and grown in specific territories
recognized by the General Declaration on the Protection of the
Appellation of Origin Tequila, as put forth by Mexico’s Tequila
Regulatory Council.
Anything else made from the agave plant – even to near-identical
standards – is a mezcal, which is technically a blanket term for
any spirit distilled from agave.
Agave hearts, or piñas used in the production of either tequila
or mezcal can be cooked before fermentation, though those used
for mezcal are more often roasted in underground pits, imparting
the finished product with generally more of a smokier aroma and
taste.
Following the
fermentation and distillation processes, tequilas and mezcals
can be aged to varying degrees before bottling, resulting in
multiple distinctions. The distinctions include Blanco (bottled
within two months), Reposado (aged between two and 12 months)
and Añejo (aged longer than 12 months), with the younger
tequilas generally being better for mixing, and the older better
for sipping.
All tequila is mezcal,
but not all mezcal is tequila.
Incidentally, Mezcal
is Spanish and mescal is English spelling.
Showing posts with label Mezcal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mezcal. Show all posts
May 8, 2020
Sep 13, 2013
Mexican Independence
Most Americans think of Cinco de Mayo
as a celebration of Mexican independence, along the same lines as
the 4th of July, with many participating in the festivities merely
for an excuse to drink margaritas. However, Cinco de Mayo actually
commemorates a victory in battle against French occupying forces. In
the spring of 1861, A powerful French battalion swept across the
countryside until they were stopped in The Battle of Puebla at the
forts of Loreto and Guadalupe by a much smaller Mexican group on May
5th. Unfortunately, the following year, the French returned with
thirty thousand troops, took over Mexico, and installed Maximilian I
as Emperor.
While it is an important celebration in Puebla, in other areas of Mexico it is somewhat less popular. Mexican Independence Day, a completely separate holiday, is celebrated on September 16th.
Tequila is the national drink of Mexico, a potent spirit made from the blue agave. Like champagne, which can only legally be produced in the Champagne region of France, tequila must be derived from agave grown only in very specific parts of Mexico. As the drink’s popularity has continued to rise throughout the world, Mexico has tried to maintain its control, claiming tequila is a “geographically indicated product” under intellectual property rights law. It seems other countries may soon be producing tequila, particularly China, which has areas that mimic Mexico’s very specific climate and soil.
A common misconception about tequila is that the bottle should feature a worm. This actually holds true only for mezcal, a similar drink made from agave. The worm is actually the larva of a moth called the Hypopta agavis that routinely infests agave. While there are some who make the claim that the worm somehow improves the flavor, it is more likely just a marketing ploy.
While it is an important celebration in Puebla, in other areas of Mexico it is somewhat less popular. Mexican Independence Day, a completely separate holiday, is celebrated on September 16th.
Tequila is the national drink of Mexico, a potent spirit made from the blue agave. Like champagne, which can only legally be produced in the Champagne region of France, tequila must be derived from agave grown only in very specific parts of Mexico. As the drink’s popularity has continued to rise throughout the world, Mexico has tried to maintain its control, claiming tequila is a “geographically indicated product” under intellectual property rights law. It seems other countries may soon be producing tequila, particularly China, which has areas that mimic Mexico’s very specific climate and soil.
A common misconception about tequila is that the bottle should feature a worm. This actually holds true only for mezcal, a similar drink made from agave. The worm is actually the larva of a moth called the Hypopta agavis that routinely infests agave. While there are some who make the claim that the worm somehow improves the flavor, it is more likely just a marketing ploy.
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