18 things you didn’t know about tequila

As an iconic drink and one of Mexico’s biggest exports, tequila is ubiquitous in bars (and homes) across the country and the world. However, despite its fame and glory, here are probably 20 things you probably didn’t know about this authentic Mexican drink.

1. Tequila can be mixed to make other drinks than the classic margarita that everyone knows. A popular Mexican combination is tequila and a grapefruit-flavored fizzy drink, which is known interchangeably as tequila or paloma. If you’re more of a Coca-Cola person, then order a charro negro – tequila and Coca-Cola.
2. If you prefer tequila shots, you should be careful in Mexico. Tequila has a reputation in other countries for being a shot alcohol, but that’s really not the case; good tequila should be sipped and savored.
3. Also, don’t ask for salt and lime. You can if you really want to, but it’s not a typical request in Mexico.
4. For tequila to be considered a tequila, it must be produced in the Jalisco city of the same name, Tequila. If you buy tequila that is not from the state of Jalisco, it must be legally marketed as “agave spirit”.
5. Speaking of agave, this is the plant from which tequila is made. Specifically, tequila can only be made from the blue agave plant. You probably recognize the blue agave plant by its spiky appearance, but did you also know that tequila is made from – not the leaves – but the heart of the plant, otherwise known as the piña?
6. However, tequila does not have to be 100% blue agave to be classified as tequila. Instead, the limit between tequila and, of course, not tequila, is 51%. A blue agave content of less than 51% does not qualify as tequila. Purists insist that only a 100% blue agave tequila will do, while the average layperson probably couldn’t even tell you the difference between that and the mixto versions (those with 51%-99% blue agave).
7. A jimador is the person who harvests, by hand, the agave piña. You might think that the word jimador sounds unusually familiar – well, that’s because there is a brand of tequila called Jimador.
8. However, Jose Cuervo remains the most famous and important brand of tequila in the world. A real person, Jose Antonio Cuervo, was the first man to get a license to sell tequila and his business quickly expanded; in the 19th century he sold 10,000 barrels in Guadalajara alone.
9. There are many varieties of tequila. Blanco or Plata, which is the least aged version; Reposado, aged for 2 to 12 months; Añejo, which is left to rest in barrels for 1 to 3 years; Extra Añejo, which is left to rest for 3 to 5 years. The longer the tequila has been aged, the darker it usually becomes, as it takes on the color of the barrels. But before aging can even begin, it takes at least eight years for the agave plant to reach full harvest maturity. This means that problems with the growth of agave plants can cause tequila shortages much later, especially because these plants are very particular about the conditions in which they grow.
10. After opening a bottle of tequila, you should drink it within two months. If you leave it open any longer, the agave may lose its distinctive flavor profile.
11. The word tequila is said to come from a Nahuatl word. It is said to mean “the place where plants are harvested”.
12. Surprisingly, drinking tequila has health benefits. It can help reduce cholesterol levels, stress levels (for obvious reasons) and can apparently help stimulate insulin production. In addition, it is useful for colds and stomach problems.
13. Tequila is a huge symbol of Mexican national pride. Tequila sales are said to explode around the time of Mexico’s Independence Day in mid-September. Yet, despite this, the majority of tequila is exported and sold in the United States. Primarily consumed in the states of Florida, California and Texas, it is estimated that approximately 24 million Americans drank tequila at some point in 2015.
14. Bing Crosby is said to be responsible for introducing Herradura tequila to the American market. Apparently, he liked the brand so much that he helped import it north of the border.
15. Perhaps that taste in tequila explains why the most expensive bottle ever sold cost $225,000. The six-year-old tequila in the platinum and white gold bottle was supposedly worth only $2,500.
16. Tequila can be turned into artificial diamonds. Researchers at UNAM have discovered that tequila can be turned into diamonds, which can then be used not for your next diamond necklace, but in the computer industry.
17. The Aztecs reportedly discovered the predecessor to what we know today as tequila when lightning struck an agave plant. The piña was then cooked and they discovered the sweet, fermented juice it contained. It is said that this is where tequila was eventually developed, although it is anyone’s guess how true this story is.
18. Finally, National Tequila Day (in the United States, at least) is July 24! Have a shot or two of tequila in the name of Mexico.