Tequila
Tequila is the heart and soul of Mexico. It’s the national drink and it has been unfairly branded throughout history -- even after the conquistadors introduced distillation to mezcal in 1530. Tequila has a bad reputation and it’s because we've all been there, lured by its ritualistic methods of consumption and its promise to take us to a higher level of consciousness, but in the end we’re left with a vague recollection of the night’s proceedings. Tequila is one of the tastiest liquors ever made. It is produced from a mexican plant called agave, specifically, from blue agave. These plants grow in the sandy soil of Jalisco, Mexico, and have spiky leaves growing from a "piña" (Spanish for pineapple). This piña or core is the raw material for making tequila. When the plant is ripe, leaves are chopped away by someone known as a "jimador". It is quite a demanding job since the plant must be cut in the precise moment. If the plant is too young, it won't ...