What is a tequila worm?

According to Anthony Dias Blue's Complete Book of Spirits, that "worm" is actually a larva from one of two types of moths, known as maguey worms, that live on the agave plant. These larvae are called gusano and bottles of mezcal that contain the lil guys are referred to as con gusano.

What is the purpose of the worm in the tequila bottle?

The legend of the worm started in the 1950s when a Mexican mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of mezcal. This mezcal maker thought the worm's presence actually improved its taste. He placed a worm in each bottle as a marketing strategy. Over time, other manufacturers followed suit due to its popularity.

What does it mean to eat the worm with tequila?

Consuming the worm after drinking mezcal is a popular tradition among many communities, but it is not clear where the tradition originated. Some believe that the adding the worm in a bottle of mezcal signifies the purity of the alcohol, as it hinders the disintegration of the worm.

Do they still put worm in tequila?

Even today, with mezcal making a strong, high quality comeback in the spirits world, bottles complete with a worm (and a tiny packet of worm-flavored salt) are still out there. Meanwhile, it's said the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (the Mexican Standards authority) actually prohibits adding insects or larvae to tequila.

Why do they put a scorpion in tequila?

Dousing the stung body part in tequila may help, as the spirit's anti-toxic effects can lessen the pain, burning, and tingling that accompany a scorpion sting.

Who Invented Tequila and What's the Deal with the Worm?

What brands of tequila have a worm?

No, there is no brand of tequila that uses worms. Mezcal is the Mexican spirit that you are looking for. But there's another reason you will never see a worm in tequila. The Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (Mexican Standard Authority) prohibits the use of larvae or insects in tequila.

When did they stop putting worms in tequila?

Once tequila was granted protected status in 1977 (on October 13, if you'd care to celebrate), the worm system was rendered unnecessary.

Does Jose Cuervo have a worm in it?

9. TEQUILA DOES NOT HAVE A WORM IN ITS BOTTLE.

Does the worm in Mezcal do anything?

But the worm doesn't just affect the marketing; it actually changes the drink's chemistry, De León said. "Mezcals with the worm have a greater amount of unsaturated compounds and unsaturated alcohols such as… cis-3-Hexen-1-ol."

What tequila has a scorpion in it?

This award-winning Mezcal is artisan-made in small batches in Oaxaca, Mexico, with a real scorpion in every bottle. The distinctive bottle comes with its own little Scorpion Mezcal sombrero.

Is mezcal illegal in the US?

Is Mezcal Tequila Illegal? There is no such thing as an illegal act. The practice wasn't legal at one point. (It would not be legal to export mezcal until 2006, when John Rexer, owner of Illegal Mezcal, had decided to sell mezcal in his Antigua, Guatemala, bar.

Should tequila be refrigerated?

Spirits or liquors like vodka, tequila, rum, gin, brandy, and whiskey can be left out at room temperature, or chilled depending on personal preference, according to beverage expert Anthony Caporale. White wine, champagne, beer, and cider should all be chilled in the refrigerator prior to consumption, per Caporale.

What happens if you swallow the worm?

Accidentally ingesting maggots does not generally cause any lasting harm. However, if a person has ingested maggots through eating spoiled food, they may be at risk of food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can range from very mild to serious, and they can sometimes last for several days.

Can you eat scorpion in tequila?

In each of the four glasses Rafael de la Cuesta put a scorpion submerged in mezcal as he poured a shot of mezcal over it. “The whole scorpion is edible,” Rafael told me. The scorpion can either be consumed before the shot is taken or can be swallowed whole like a pill.

What is difference between tequila and mezcal?

Tequila is typically produced by steaming the agave inside industrial ovens before being distilled two or three times in copper pots. Mezcal, on the other hand, is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots.

Do all tequila bottles have worms?

The higher the percentage of blue agave, the finer the bottle. So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms.

Why is Jose Cuervo not tequila?

Why Is Jose Cuervo Not Real Tequila? Spirits derived from agave, such as Tequila, are called agave spirits. The blue agave is what it is called. A particularly nauseating, sketchy type of tequila is “mixed” (per Tequila Matchmaker), and Jose Cuervo Especial is a mixed tequila.

How much is tequila with the worm?

It costs $3 to buy a 3-liter tequila bottle dubbed “The Diamond Sterling”. More than a million dollars per liter – that's over $5 million. Tequila Ley is credited with creating the bottle, according to Culture Map. There is no price comparison available for this bottle as it costs 925.

What plant is tequila made from?

The juice of the blue agave, cultivated primarily in the state of Jalisco, is used to make tequila; other agave species are used to make mezcal, bacanora, sotol, and pulque. There are more than 300 agave species. An agave plant takes eight to 12 years to mature.

What is the top tequila?

What is the most expensive tequila?

What is this? Listed on the market for a value of 3.5 million dollars, Tequila Ley. 925 Diamante is the most expensive tequila one could buy.

Can you buy mezcal with worm in the US?

The #1 selling Mezcal in the USA. With agave and of course, the worm!

What does the tequila worm taste like?

In most cases, you won't be able to see any things after eating the worm because it has more to do with the mezcal you drank than the larva itself. Mezcal worm's taste has been described as similar to chicken by some people who have eaten it. share that experience – try one of our recipes that actually use chicken.

What do worms taste like?

She describes the taste as distractingly earthy — which makes sense, as it's dirt that earthworms eat. "In my experience, bugs taste like their diet," she says. "So whatever the bug has been eating, frequently they will taste somewhat like that." The same goes for worms, says Martin.

Is tequila vegan?

The legend of the tequila worm.

This isn't true and tequila is vegan. But there is a type of alcohol called Mezcal, made from the agave plant which is bottled with a moth larvae which lives on agave plants, allegedly to improve the taste — yuck!