Why Is Tequila So Popular In The United States?
Tequila is one of the most popular distilled beverages in the United States and Mexico. The main reason why tequila is so special among the liquors is that it is only produced in some designated regions of Mexico like Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Tamaulipas. It is made from the agave plant.
The production of tequila is mainly concentrated in Jalisco. The United States and Mexico account for about half of the world’s total tequila consumption. Tequila is one of the main ingredients in cocktails that are served in the pubs of these countries.
How Is Tequila Made?
Tequila is made by distilling the fermented juices of the Weber blue agave plant, which is a member of the lily family. The Weber blue agave plant usually looks like a giant aloe vera. The agave plant that is used for the production of tequila is harvested when it is grown for about 10 years.
The leaves of the agave plant will be removed and the piñas are quartered after the plant is harvested. Piñas are the large bulb-like underground part of the agave plant. The plant material is then slowly baked in steam for converting the starches to sugars. The agave is crushed to extract the sweet juice after it is baked. The juice will be fermented with yeast to convert the sugar into alcohol.
Types Of Tequila
There are mainly three types of tequila-based on how much time it is aged. Each of them is equally favored among the tequila lovers in the world. However, the most common one is the Reposado Tequila. This tequila is aged for up to 2 to 11 months in oak barrels, which gives the beverage a woody taste.
Since alcohol gifts are becoming very popular, you can gift Reposado tequila as a holiday present to your friends, relatives, or colleagues. The second type of tequila is the Anejo tequila. The word anejo itself means aged. This particular tequila is aged for over a year in oak barrels or caskets, which gives the Anejo tequila a distinctive oaky taste.
The third type of tequila, Blanco tequila, is bottled immediately after the distillation process or within 2 months after distillation. Blanco tequila is most commonly used for tequila shots or tequila slammers and has the strongest agave flavors.
Recently, a new variety of tequila called Extra Anejo tequila is becoming very popular. As the name suggests, this variety of tequila is aged for at least three years in oak barrels.