Tequila is an alcoholic drink that is very popular and bought in Mexico and the United States. It originated in Mexico around the sixteenth century in a city in Guadalajara called Tequila. It is sorted into the mescal family. Most tequila has an alcohol concentration of 30 to 40 percent. A major ingredient of tequila comes from the Agave plant. Agave belongs to the family Agavaceae. Agave is used for many reasons like how is used in tequila and also for medical reasons.
Although tequila was first made during the 16th century, the Aztecs had already made a beverage using the Agave plant before the Spaniards arrive to their land. The Agave plant is used for many other things other than tequila. It can be used for medical purposes as well. It can be made for tea which treats constipation and excess gas. It is also used as an alternative for sugar. Also it is now a main ingredient in the energy drink made by Snapple called rain. The blue Agave plant is mostly used for making tequila. The procedures of producing tequila are long because it takes a lot of years.
First the blue Agave Plant must least 6 years. It must be used before it starts to flower or else the juice inside will be lost. Then the base of the plant is cut off and the plant is cooked. I traditionally cooked it would take about 36 hours but using autoclaves speeds it up to 6 hours. After it is cooked the root is crushed so that all the juice comes out then collected by a bucket. The juice collected is then fermented with yeast for 7 to 10 days, but using accelerators will speed it up to a few hours. After the fermentation process it is distilled twice and then finally allowed to age. The various types of Tequilas are classified by how long they are allowed
to age. The one least aged is left for sixty days and the longest is about two to three years.
Works Cited
All About Agave - What is Agave Nectar? 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.allaboutagave.com/>.
Tequila - Types, History, Photographs - Tequila Source. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.tequilasource.com/>.
"Tequila Information." Www.a1b2c3.com. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/alc07.htm>.
Tyson, Joseph A. "Tequila - The Essence of Mexico." Cabo San Lucas - Los Cabos, Mexico. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.loscabosguide.com/tequila>.
Comments (2)
John Silva said
at 10:32 am on Jan 22, 2009
Take out the "I" pronouns and write like its an article. Give more detail about what tequila is.
John Silva said
at 8:00 pm on Feb 8, 2009
15 - Article is incomplete and missing detail. Bibliography not properly formatted.
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