Tequila Isn't Made From Cactus

[00:00:00] Tequila is made from a cactus. No, it's not. And if you've ever said that, don't worry, you're not alone. Today we're fixing one of the big myths in the tequila world. That tequila is made from a cactus. No, it is made from the blue Weber agave plant. And here's what's crazy about this plant. Agave isn't even in the cactus family. It's actually more related to asparagus than it is cactus. The plant used to make tequila is the blue Weber agave, and it grows all over Mexico. But it can only be grown in five regions in Mexico to be used as tequila. It takes five to eight years for this plant to mature. And when it's ready to harvest, a machine doesn't do it, a humidor does. He harvest the plant with a koa. They cut off the long, spiky leaves and leave the heart of the agave called the pina. Then that pinha gets cooked, crushed, fermented, and distilled. And that's how we get tequila. So why do people think it's a cactus? Well, it kind of looks like one. It's got sharp leaves. It grows in dry, hot climates. It looks like something that would hurt you. And trust me, we have some big ones around here. They will if you're not paying attention. But botanically, it is completely different. Cactus stores its water in thick stems. Agave stores its water in its core. It's a completely different plant structure, totally different family. Now, here's something else that's important. Tequila can only be made in certain regions of Mexico, primarily Jalisco. And it can only be called tequila if it's made with the blue Weber agave plant. At least 51% of the agave sugars. True quality tequila is made with 100% pure agave. So the next time someone says to you tequila is made from a cactus, you can politely say, no. It's actually the blue Weber agave, and it takes almost a decade to grow. If you want to level up your tequila knowledge and you enjoy learning truth about tequila, make sure you follow along, because we don't just drink tequila here, we understand it. Let me know if you've ever had somebody tell you tequila was made from a cactus. And let me know if you learned anything from this video in the comments. Thanks for watching. Know what you're drinking.