In accordance with delusion, the Aztec goddess Mayahuel was impressed to create tequila after watching a mouse turn into intoxicated after consuming agave. By crafting the spirit, Mayahuel turned often known as the goddess of agave. Nevertheless, this little bit of tequila trivia ignores Mayahuel’s most outstanding function in Aztec mythology; Mayahuel was also called the goddess of fertility. Sadly, ignoring the connection between tequila and fertility appears to be an ongoing drawback.
The devastating fungus known as fusarium, which swept by way of Jalisco practically a decade in the past damaging virtually a 3rd of agave vegetation at a time when demand for tequila was reaching unprecedented ranges, stays an infinite risk to the business. The disaster induced a shift in how tequila was produced. The monetary pressure made it troublesome for unbiased distillers to proceed to make tequila; as a substitute, they had been pressured to promote their property to main firms which frequently centered on amount over high quality. Recognizing elevated demand for tequila amid shortages of blue agave, which may take as much as 12 years to completely mature, many corporations started buying different varieties of magueys, wild types of agave that develop in locations resembling Guerrero. The consequence was a lower in biodiversity; whereby, these maguey vegetation turned threatened by the consumption of the business and shoot growth turned extra widespread. Moreover, the follow of rising agave from shoots, not fertilization, created circumstances that elevated agave’s vulnerability to fusarium.
These circumstances may be seen on the cabinets of your native liquor retailer. The best tequilas are created from 100% blue agave; nonetheless, most tequilas are “mixto”, that means they might be created from solely 51% agave. These tequilas incessantly import different magueys to complement blue agave, creating cheaper tequilas that are most value efficient for shoppers and producers. Even the some most revered of tequilas, resembling Jimador, have made the change from 100% agave. Whereas the variety of obtainable 100% agave manufacturers has grown and mixto tequila manufacturers have barely decreased, the quantity of mixto being produced by these corporations is climbing yearly. Sadly, the booming mixto market has elevated the stress on agave manufacturing and created circumstances wherein a repeat of the notorious scarcity could be very doable.
Thankfully, the elevated environmental consciousness wherein 65 % of People report making an attempt at the least one natural product and 10 % eat organics weekly has created a requirement for natural merchandise in sudden industries. Lately, vodkas, resembling Sq. One and Liquid Ice, have emerged to satisfy this demand, but the quantity of natural tequilas stays extraordinarily restricted. Nonetheless, options do exist. four Copas produces a 100% blanco, reposado, and anejo tequila which is totally natural. Distirbution of this tequila is most widespread in California, however current success at worldwide competitions might encourage elevated distribution.
If four Copas will not be an possibility, minimally, shoppers ought to attempt to buy 100% agave tequilas over mixtos. These tequilas nonetheless generally come from shoots, however buying these productss reduces threats to biodiversity from the follow of importing wild maguey vegetation. Moreover, these tequilas simply style higher! Of those manufacturers, Sauza and Herradura are investigating methods to show waste merchandise from manufacturing into bioplastics and different power sources.
The connection between Mayahuel’s function as goddess of agave and fertility might appear to be an uncommon relationship. Nevertheless, the necessity to contemplate the function of biodiversity and natural manufacturing within the tequila business can’t be underestimated. Advocating change for a greater product and more healthy atmosphere should start with shoppers. The world of cocktail fanatics is conscious of how to decide on tequila for high quality, however the on a regular basis shopper typically chooses a preferred or cheaper model. Educating these people is the duty of those that are conscious of those variations. By taking any alternative to take action by way of running a blog or by taking extra time to elucidate merchandise to your prospects on the bar, interpersonal interplay can assist to enhance what’s shortly turning into the world’s subsequent wonderful spirit.