Tequila Facts: Part 3 – Origin & History
During our last visit to Mexico, we were not only busy developing our new products, but were also there to experience and explore more of the rich culture and history. Of course, in the end it all has something to do with tequila again, but that’s just the way it is. Let’s start from the beginning, with some facts about the origin and history of tequila.
The Origin of Tequila
The history of tequila begins even before the Spanish first set foot on Mexican soil in the 16th century. The indigenous population used the agave plants, which were already cultivated in some parts of the country at that time, to make mezcal wine. Legend has it that after a lightning strike and the ensuing fire in an agave field, the people discovered that the agave hearts, heated by the fire, contained a sweet, aromatic liquid that, when allowed to ferment, had an exhilarating and relaxing effect – a gift from the gods. But it was still “only” the mezcal wine.
It was not until the Spanish conquistadors that tequila was also distilled from the vino mezcal. When the brandy the Europeans brought with them ran out, they looked around for other ways to quench their thirst and came across the fermented mezcal nectar. They decided to distil the wine to obtain a higher-proof drink – the birth of tequila.