What is the tall, fast-growing stalk of the agave plant called?
quiote
T or F? The leaves of the agave plant, known as pencas, grow in the form of a rosette
True
T or F? Blue agave plants can grow to be 5-8 feet in height
True
T or F? Most agave plants used for tequila production are grown from seeds in commercial nurseries
False: Most commercially grown agave plants are reproduced asexually via shoots—known as hijuelos or pups—that form along the plant’s underground stems (rhizomes).
T or F? The Agave tequilana Weber plant is the only species of agave that is grown in Mexico
False
T or F? The agave plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family
True
T or F? The agave plant is classified as a succulent, but it is not a cactus
True
T or F? In order to be used in the production of tequila, the central stem of the agave plant must be harvested before it is allowed to swell with honey water
False: the flower stalk is removed before it has a chance to blossom which prevents the plant from reach sexual maturity
T or F? Approximately 50% of the blue agave cultivated for use in tequila is grown in Nayarit
False: more than 80% of all blue agave cultivated for use in tequila is grown in Jalisco
T or F? Agave plans to be used in the production of tequila are injured by having the central flower stalk removed before the plant has a chance to blossom
True
T or F? The swollen portion of the agave heart is sometimes referred to as cabeza
True: also called piña
T or F? Blue agave matures very quickly, allowing tequila distillers to harvest a new crop from a single plant every year
False: blue agave grows 6-8 years before it is harvested
The fibers left over after the cooked agaves are "juiced"
Bagazo
The alcoholic liquid produced via the fermentation of processed agave juice
Mosto
The heart, or desired portion of the distillation run
El corazón
The chemical breakdown of a compound due to a reaction with water
hydrolysis
The raw form of carbohydrate found in unprocessed agave
Inulin
The distillate created via the first distillation run in the production of tequila
Tequila primero
A skilled field worker who prepares and harvests the agave plants
Jimador
A modern, high-pressure stainless steel oven used to prepare agave
Autoclave
A large stone wheel traditionally used to press the cooked agave
Tahona
A traditional steam oven used to cook and prepare agave
Horno
The distillate created via the second distillation run in the production of tequila
Tequila refino
A sharp cutting tool used to prepare the agave plants for harvest
Coa
The raw "juice" of a swollen agave heart, sometimes known as honey water
Aguamiel
An underground plant stem
Rhizone
Shoots that form along the underground stems of the agave plant
Hijuelos
Identify the regions and cities within the tequila-producing regions of Mexico
1. Monterey
2. Tamaulipas
3. Guanajuato
4. Mexico City
5. Oaxaca
6. Nayarit
7. Guadalajara
8. Jalisco
9. Michoacán
Describe how agave plants reproduce
Hijuelos (shoots) produced during the third to sixth year of parent plant’s life cycle are considered strong enough to be successfully replanted. The shoots themselves are severed from the parent plant at about one year of age, and may be sorted by size—and referred to as lemon-, onion-, or grapefruit-size.
After the shoots are harvested, they are transported to a nursery area where they will be trimmed of excess leaves and left to dry for anywhere from one to three weeks. At this point they will be planted in a nursery area. After a period of time (typically around two years), the shoots are moved to their final growing site where they will mature into the next-generation parent plants of the agave fields.
Overall, the warmer of the two regions
A. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Average altitude is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level
B. Los Altos/Highlands Region
Produces tequilas that are more vegetal in flavor
C. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Produces tequila with spicy black pepper flavors
B. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Located in the east-central section of Jalisco
C. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Produces tequilas that are highly floral in nature
A. Los Altos/Highlands Region
Produces agave pinas that average 35 to 45 kilos (75 to 165 pounds) in weight
C. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Produces tequilas that are crisper and more earthy
A. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Produces agave pinas that average 50 to 90 kilos (110 to 200 pounds) in weight
B. Los Altos/Highlands Region
Average altitude is 1,300 meters (4,200 feet) above sea level
C. The Amatitán/Lowlands Region
Produces tequilas that are softer and fruitier
C. Los Altos/Highlands Region
Located in north eastern Jalisco
A. Los Altos/Highlands Region
What are 3 other terms that may be used on the label of an unaged, or "blanco" tequila?
plato, white, silver
Mixto (as non-100% agave tequila is often called) must be produced using a minimum of X% blue agave aguamiel. The remainder of the sugar typically consists of Y.
X: 51%
Y: cane sugar, mollases, corn syrup
What is the only style of tequila that is not permitted to be mellowed with sugar or other additives?
blanco/silver
What 3 terms may be used to indicate a product made via the blending of young (blanco) tequila with aged tequila?
joven, oro, gold
Mixto tequila made with caramel coloring (or other conditioners) and marketed in the US as "tequila gold" may also be known as what?
joven abocado
Tequila aged for a minimum of 2 months in oak vats or barrels
reposado
Tequila aged for a minimum of 1 year in oak barrels
añejo
Tequila aged for a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels
extra-añejo
Extra-aged or ultra-aged tequila must be aged in oak barrels no larger than what?
600 liters (160 gal)
Flavored tequila has been on the market since when?
2004
All X tequila must be distilled an bottled ion Mexico, but Y tequila may be exported in bulk and bottled outside of Mexico
X: 100% agave
Y: mixto
What is the top-selling brand of tequila based on global sales?
Jose Cuervo
A traditional product of Jalisco allowed to be produced from many varieties of agave (but not allowed to be produced using Blue agave)
Raicilla
Translates as "little root"
Raicilla
A distilled spirit produced in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila
Sotol
A distilled spirit produced from the desert spoon plant
Sotol
Variety of agave that is used in the production of close to 90% of all mezcal products
Agave augustifolia
Variety of agave that is allowed, but not widely used in the production of mezcal
Agave salmiano
Type of mezcal with no aging requirement
joven
Type of mezcal that requires a minimum of 2 months of oak aging
reposada
Type of mezcal that must be oak-aged for at least 1 year
añejo
Type of mezcal that requires the agave to be cooked in pit or cement ovens with no stainless steel allowed, but does not require the use of bagazo
Mezcal Artesanal
Type of mezcal that requires distillation to be accomplished over a direct fire as well as the use of bagazo
Mezcal Ancestral
A milky-looking product that is best while fresh and usually consumed locally
Pulque
A fermented beverage produced from agave
Pulque
Agave spirit named for the town in Sonora where it was first produced
Bacanora
The traditional center and leading area of mezcal production
Oaxaca
What is the minimum required aging for añejo tequila?
D. 1 year in oak barrels
What type of tequila must be aged for a minimum of 2 months in oak vats or barrels?
C. Reposado
Which of the following Mexican states contains an approved tequila-production region?
A. Guanajuato
What is maguey?
The sap of Agave americana; it is the typical base material for pulque
What is the production facility for pulque called?
tinacal
How is pulque fermented?
Fermentation by zymomonas mobilis bacteria is induced by the addition of some still-fermenting pulque to the vat of fresh sap. Fermentation takes 7-14 days.
Which of the following batches of ingredients could be legally used for the production of non-100% agave tequila?
C. A batch containing 51% blue agave, plus molasses, can syrup, and corn syrup
Note: maguey is the sap of Agave americana, used to make pulque
What is a tahona?
B. A large stone wheel traditionally used to crush to cooked agave fibers
Which of the following is true concerning the distillation of tequila?
C. The law does not specify the type of distillation that must be used in the production of tequila
What is the typical alcohol content of tequila primero?
C. 25% abv
Which of the following is the best description of a mixto tequila marketed in the US as "gold tequila"?
A. Non-100% agave tequila with caramel coloring
Which of the following is true concerning mixto tequila?
C. It may be exported from Mexico in bulk and bottled in the US
Which of the following states is the leading producer of tequila?
B. Jalisco
Where is San Luis de la Paz located, and what beverage is produced there?
C. Guanajuato, mezcal
Which of the following distillates is produced from the desert spoon plant?