To present and evaluate the lessons learned in the tequila worm. Although mexicans dont typically drink mezcal with a worm in it, according to reports, some eat the worms after they have been cured in an alcohol solution. The author offers a charming account of the amazing blue agave plant, the essential ingredient in tequila, outlines the growing, harvesting and manufacturing process, makes comparisons with other agave derived drinks such as mescal, relates the agave and tequila to the social history of mexico, and dispels many myths about tequila its not. The tequila worm has achieved a delicious, lowkey ubiquity. The worm were all thinking of actually belongs in a bottle of mezcal, tequilas huskier, smokier cousin tequila has to be at least 51% blue agave, but. A technical, scientific and cultural look at the blue agave and the tequila industry, by the guru of agave production. The author offers a charming account of the amazing blue agave plant, the essential ingredient in tequila, outlines the growing, harvesting and manufacturing process, makes comparisons with other agavederived drinks such as mescal, relates the agave and tequila to the social history of mexico, and dispels many myths about tequila its not. Tequila worms to eat or not to eat that is the question. The tequila worm written by viola canales published by wendy lamb books, 2005 isbn. For your reference, we provided these the tequila worm quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. There are two primary styles of tequila, being mixtos and 100% agave.
Agave head is harvested and cut into pieces for cooking. Tequila is a type of mezcal, much like how scotch and bourbon are types of whiskey. The worms bore into the agave plants pineapplelike heart, and quite a few get cooked up in the brew used to make mescal. Tequila is the specific spirit made from blue agave in a distinct mexican region more on that later. To get the party started, heres a recipe for oviedos. A mezcal worm is an insect larva found in some types of mezcal produced in oaxaca, mexico. The tequila worm was designated a notable book by the american library association and won the pen center usa award, the novel was also awarded the pura belpre medal for narrative. The book is a wonderful guide to everything you need to know about tequila.
Oct 29, 2014 the tequila worm written by viola canales published by wendy lamb books, 2005 isbn. Tequila is actually a kind of mezcal, in the same way that cognac is a type of brandy. For example, the tequila worm is known as the care for everyone. Tequila project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Mixtose still use a minimum of 51% agave, but can be blended with other glucose and fructose sugars to make up the remainder of the spirit.
In his book, dias blue writes that the insect serves as evidence of a mezcals potency. The worm, or gusano, is actually associated with mezcal, a close drink relative of tequila s. The coral tequila worm gusano rojo, which is thought to be the most tasty, buries into the pineappleshaped center of an agave plant. Libraries with such titles as ann and larry walkers tequila chronicle, 1994 or lynn nusoms the tequila cook book golden west, 1993 will find that they focus more on recipes and cocktails while emmonss book offers more of an overall view. Agave, mezcal, gusano, and other tequila terms you should. Mezcal is the family of booze tequila belongs to and can be made from about 30 other species. To instill a love of reading by offering crafts and activities to go along with quality latino literature. Unlike tequila, which is only distilled from one plant, blue agave, mezcal is a spirit that can be distilled from a slew of agave. The tequila worm, random house llc, 2007 208 pages. The following information comprises a standardsbased educators guide that the laii has produced to support using the tequila worm wendy lamb books, 2005 in the classroom.
Apr 15, 2020 casa dragones is labeled as a sipping tequilafor good reason. Entomological descriptions for the tequila worm can be confusing. Unlike its infamous offspring tequila, until recently you would have had to take a trip to mexico to try this intriguing spirit. To be called tequila, the liquor must be 100% blue agave and be produced in just five reg. This is my favourite book on tequila because it covers so much in such a small space. The tequila worm the tequila worm by viola canales is the selection for the laiis vamos a leer book group meeting held on november 3, 2014.
Top 5 quotes from the tequila worm free book notes. The worm, however, isnt actually a worm, but the larva of one of two different types of moths that live on the agave plant. Mar, 2007 the tequila worm was designated a notable book by the american library association and won the pen center usa award, the novel was also awarded the pura belpre medal for narrative. Far from being grossed out, jacobo concluded that the worm was an essential component of the liquors flavor and color. More specifically, its in the family agavaceae ahgavayseeee. Agave ahgahvay is a plant of great economic importance to mexico. Recommended for libraries with an interest in the subject or needing a good general tequila source. Tequila is a distilled beverage which is made out of the blue agave plant. Jul 19, 2017 providing the raw material for building homes and able to be converted into clothing and even rope, the numerous species of maguey also called agave and the century plant were an. What are the effects of drinking a worm from a tequila. Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm. Books similar to the tequila worm the tequila worm. There has never been a worm at the bottom of a tequila bottle.
The meriposa worm is grown on agave from which mezcal is made, and when a worm is added to the mezcal, it is known as mezcal con gusano. Most people think that tequila bottle contain worm. Azul, whereas mezcal is produced from agave patatorum. Although tequila is a kind of mezcal, modern tequila differs somewhat in the method of. Although tequila is a kind of mezcal, modern tequila differs somewhat in the method of its production, in.
With the help of his best friend and sidekick tony aka worm, a 500yearold burrow and copious amounts of tequila, albert just might save the world. The worm, or gusano, is actually associated with mezcal, a close drink relative of tequilas. Williams visits countless tequila producers, distributors, and connoisseurs to tell the story of how tequila started in the agave lands of mexico, became an icon of youthful inebriation, and developed, today, into a truly artisanal product drawing the most discerning drinkers. And there are lots of spirits that are made from agave in a nearly identical manner to mezcal, but for various reasons dont meet the government classifications, such as raicilla, sotol, and bacanora. Valanzuela zapata ediciones mundiprensa, mexico, 2003. One night while drunk on tequila, albert falls violently into a mysterious agave plant and becomes the blue agave, mexican superhero. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio in mcallen, texas, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions. What are the different categories of tequila to pay attention to and how long does tequila last. The volcanic soil in the region is well suited to the growing of the cactus like blue agave which is the only genus of the agave plant used to make tequila. Feb 11, 2016 technically its not tequila, its mezcal. And there are lots of spirits that are made from agave in a nearly identical manner to mezcal, but for various reasons dont meet the government classifications, such as raicilla, sotol, and.
Its made completely from estategrown blue agave in. Jan, 2016 the worm were all thinking of actually belongs in a bottle of mezcal, tequilas huskier, smokier cousin tequila has to be at least 51% blue agave, but mezcal can be made from any variety of. In 2004, the council decided to allow flavored tequila to be called tequila, with the exception of 100% agave tequila, which still cannot be flavored. No dissertation of tequila myth is complete without a mention of the worm. For the record, there are no worms in tequila, no tequila brand has a worm in the bottom of the bottle.
Who invented tequila and whats the deal with the worm. Max falkowitz all tequila comes from a single variety of agave. When sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to. There are two distillates produced from the agave plant tequila and mezcal. Providing the raw material for building homes and able to be converted into clothing and even rope, the numerous species of maguey also.
Only one pura belpre award is given, per year, to authors who create childrens books that depict, support, and commemorate the latino cultural experience. In the 1940s the worm was used as a marketing ploy, with brands claiming the worm had aphrodisiac and even magical qualities. Casa dragones is labeled as a sipping tequilafor good reason. However, tequila is produced in tequila and its vicinity from agave tequilana weber var. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions.
The critter in question is the agave worm, which is actually a butterfly larva. Find books like the tequila worm from the worlds largest community of readers. Dec 18, 2007 sofia comes from a family of storytellers. Jun 24, 2019 tequila is a type of mezcal, much like how scotch and bourbon are types of whiskey.
This book is about as comprehensive as it gets when it comes to explaining. As you can probably guess, ingesting the worm has no effect on desire, nor are fine bottles of either tequila or mezcal sold with a worm in it. Although the reason behind the addition of the worm is not verified, one theory is that the worm is a guarantee of high proof. What are the effects of drinking a worm from a tequila bottle. In fact, the strict production and bottling of tequila forbids such a thing. The tequila worm or as it should be known as the mezcal worm is normally. Mezcal worm news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message. According to spirits writer john mcevoy, mezcal is defined as any agavebased liquor. After a period of silence, the mexican takes out a nice bottle of tequila and throws it overboard, and says, there is nice tequila like that all over mexico, that bottle means nothing to me.
The tequila worm tequila worm paperback violacanales on. Like mezcal, tequila is also made from the agave plant and originates from the same. While the worm is popularly called the tequila worm, it is only found on the bottom of a bottle of mezcal, a variety of tequila obtained from distilling blue agave and similar plants. There is a law in jalisco, mexico where all tequilas originate and are cont. If you think tequila comes with a worm in the bottle and is best downed with lime. Tequila is made from one species of agave, agave tequilana weber, var azul or blue agave, and primarily in the arid lowlands and rainy highlands outside of guadalajara, in. The tequila worm is about a girl and her family always telling stories. Goodreads members who liked the tequila worm also liked. Unlike tequila, which is only distilled from one plant, blue agave, mezcal is a spirit that can be distilled from a slew of agave varietals like espadin, tobala and madre cuixtle. The larva is usually either a gusano rojo red worm or a chinicuil maguey worm, the caterpillar of the comadia redtenbacheri moth. A look at the latino culture using the tequila worm age group 1015 years old goalsobjectives to introduce and celebrate a diverse culture in a fun and rewarding way. Tequila is an agave based spirit made primarily in the area surrounding tequila, about 30 miles northwest of guadalajara and in the highlands of the western mexican state of jalisco. Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm effects.
Why do people eat the worm inside a tequila bottle. Agave azul is blue agave or agave tequilana weber azul. Nov 08, 2018 tequila is a distilled beverage which is made out of the blue agave plant. Contrary to popular belief, a true tequila does not contain a worm. Further, tequila is made exclusively with the blue agave agave azul tequilana weber. In the 1940s the worm was used as a marketing ploy, with brands claiming the. Mezcal, on the other hand, can be made from dozens of agave varieties, and each has its own character, which may express itself completely differently depending on how the mezcal is produced and where the plants are grown. There is no worm at the bottom of a tequila bottle. According to spirits writer john mcevoy, mezcal is defined as any agave based liquor. But with mezcalerias popping up everywhere from new york city to london, tokyo and beyond, and mezcal increasingly seen on the menus of the most discerning and hippest bars, the agave plantbased alcohol is the. The world of agave spirits is so vast, it doesnt have a name. Producers use it to make mexicos favorite distilled spirit.
707 538 427 135 769 1325 177 747 325 1066 997 1185 282 71 787 799 136 190 600 845 1362 555 1143 1300 1265 398 889 913 1105