Even though we tend to think about tequila only when we are sipping Margarita, you should know that this particular cocktail is a new invention compared with its primary ingredient.
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This particular beverage comes with a long history, which is something you should remember before you purchase it the next time.
It is vital to start with the origins, which will help you understand this particular beverage’s entire story.
In the further article, we will discuss facts you did not know about tequila that will help you appreciate this particular drink more than before.
1. It Has Sacred and Ancient Roots
We can differentiate numerous fermented beverages from agave plants, including pulque, Mezcal, and tequila. Keep in mind that one of the earliest beverages was pulque that ancient Incas drank even before Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico.
We are talking about fermented, milky but not distilled drink from the heart of agave plant. At the same time, they considered it as a sacred and religious plant that had more than four hundred deities tied to it, including several gods that created it.
During pre-Hispanic times, the pulque was an essential drink for the ruling class, seniors, sick, and new mothers to relieve pain and post-natal depression. The rest of the population could have a few sips of it during religious ceremonies.
Another important consideration is that there was punishmentfor getting drunk from this particular beverage, including beatings, head shavings, and death in worst-case situations.
2. It Is Relatively New Beverage
Before the 19th century, tequila did not exist in the same configuration as today. Even though the Spaniards’ ruling class imported a wide array of European liquors, they have also started consuming pulque.
During the 17th century, the middle class started enjoying this particular beverage as well. After a while, they started distilling it by themselves, which was known as mezcal wine. It is an ancestor of tequila and modern Mezcal.
The main reason why they started creating homemade liquors is that the transportation and importing from Europe werecostly. Instead of waiting for new contingents from Europe, they began to refine the practice and created tequila we drink nowadays.
3. Every Single Tequila is Mezcal
You should know that this particular beverage obtained Denomination of Origin, which means that they implemented official international recognition. As a result, only designated areas with proper licenses could produce tequilas and call it like that.
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At the same time, Mezcal obtained DO as well, which is another crucial consideration you should remember.
By now, you probably understand that tequila is just another form of Mezcal. Both of them are spirits from agave nectar, which means that it is just an impressive variety of Mezcal.
Since thirty different agave varieties can lead to Mezcal, you should know that Tequila could come only from Blue Agave.
Another critical difference between these two options is location because only eight different Mexican states can produce Mezcal. In contrast, five places around the city of Tequila, Jalisco’s state, can make that particular beverage.
Based on location, you can get various flavors,including smoky, steam cooked, and many more.
4. Women are Crucial for Its History
It would be best if you remembered that even though cantinas across Mexico did not allow women to enter inside until the 80s of the previous century, women still played an essential role in its evolution.
The facts state that during colonial times, most bartenders were women. At the same time, regulations said that only licensed women could work as purveyors of pulque.
However, it is also essential to mention the Aztec goddess Mayahuel tied to agave plant and represent a personification of it. Therefore, you can find numerous historic distilleries in Mexico that feature murals that are depicting her.
Today, more than half of tequila drinkers in Mexico are women, which is another crucial consideration you should remember.
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5. It Helped Build Modern Day Mexico
One of the biggest reasons for Mexico’s international recognition and popularity is the three agave spirits mentioned above. Since the government regulated the liquids, they started taxing them, which allowed them to increase overall wealth.
In the mid-19th century, at least twenty-five percent of overall taxes in the country came from agave plant productions.
At the same time, during the 20th century, distilleries had to pay a thousand pesos daily in taxes, which lead to a significant amount on an annual basis, which is approximately thirty-six million dollars in today’s dollar currency.
