Is The Worm Alive
No, the worm inside the bottle of tequilas isnt alive. And to make it right, it isnt a worm, but a moth larva found in the agave plant. It is a common misconception.
The little larva could have been a beautiful Mariposa if they had not drowned them in the bottle. In or out of the mezcal bottle, those worms or moths are regularly eaten in Mexico.
Can You Eat The Worms In Tequila Bottles
You can eat the worms in tequila bottles. If youre curious and up for an adventure, go for it.
Mexicans and people who have eaten the bugs say it tastes like chicken. Also, it is not crispy and crunchy but chewy in texture when you eat it.
Chefs in Mexico incorporate these into some delectable dishes. In fact, fried gusano makes a great pair for tequilas.
How Tequila Differs From Mezcal
Tequila and mezcal both originate from Mexico and are made from agave, a form of succulent that grows in the Mexican desert. Both are widely popular throughout the world, but they arent the same thing.
Here are some key differences:
- Tequila is made with rigid standards. For starters, tequila can only be produced from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from 28 varieties of agave.
- Mezcal is traditionally from Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacan. Tequila comes from the Jalisco region.
- Tequila can either be made in small batches or mass-produced, whereas mezcal is made on a much smaller scale with a traditional process.
- Mezcal takes time to make and age, making it more expensive than younger tequilas.
The confusion is often from the names of silver and gold tequila and mezcal varieties. Not only do these spirits look similar, but the labels can also describe them as white, dorado, reposado, joven, and añejo.
Still unsure if you can tell tequila apart from mezcal? This video outlines the key differences between tequila and mezcal while giving you some great visuals:
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Why Is There A Worm In Mezcal
In short, the worm that you see in a bottle of mezcal was a marketing gimmick.
Jacobo Lozano Paez of Gusano Rojo was the brains behind the mezcal worm marketing ploy.
It began in 1950, the art school student who became a mezcal maker included moth larvae in bottles to distinguish his mezcal brand from others.
After, other producers started to us the tactic as a way to differentiate themselves from tequila back when mezcal started to gain popularity from Oaxacan tourism.Today, it widely regarded that the producers who use the worm in their mezcal is of lower quality.
However there are certain examples of high quality brands using the mezcal worm as a way to pay homage to the tradition.
How can read about examples of modern day brands using the mezcal worm here.
Significance Of The Worm & Why Its Used
Contrary to popular belief, seeking out brands of tequila with a worm in the bottle isnt going to help you find a more flavorful drink. The worm doesnt add anything to the alcohol.
Answers as to why the worm is in the bottle in the first place is actually unknown, but there are stories. Some will say that the worm in the mezcal bottle is a marketing ploy. After all, think of all those myths we just had to bust to get to this point. Hallucinogen, flavor enhancer, boozy additionthe worm is none of that. But when the worm is in the bottle on a shelf, it somehow convinces people to buy that brand.
The other story states that brewers used to add worms to help tell bottles apart. Back in the day, the peopleJimadorswho harvested the agave on the plantation would often end up with bottles that contained similarly colored liquids. Tequila and mezcal are difficult to tell apart unless you sample it, so it made sense to stick a dead worm from the agave plant in the mezcal bottle.
But since mezcal worms have only appeared in commercially sold bottles since the 1940s and 50s, as mentioned earlier, the second argument isnt entirely convincing.
Which one is more true? Who knows. The worm could be an absolute gimmick or a strange name tag. Either way, there are a few things we know are true: the ABV isnt high enough to pickle the poor creature, and it wont make you see into the dimension if you eat it.
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Why Is There A Worm In Tequila Bottles Answered
Last Updated on August 15, 2022 by Lydia Martin
A floating worm inside your drink is truly disgusting. For sure, you wouldnt want to drink it. But have you heard about the infamous worms inside tequila bottles? Youve probably seen it in the movies, but yes, its a real thing.
How and why is there a worm in tequila bottles? Keep reading to know the answer.
Clase Azul Reposado Tequila
If you haven’t tried Clase Azul, you might have at least noticed its white ceramic decanter, hand-painted with cobalt blue details at the bar. Each bottle is unique thanks to the individualized process, but in this case, what’s inside is even more exciting. Clase Azul Reposado is considered a premium variety aged eight months in American whiskey casks. The whiskey barrel aging process creates hazelnut and vanilla flavors. You also might detect hints of clove, cinnamon, and an overall smooth character in the spirit.
Some might say that Clase Azul is the type of tequila you only share with close friends, thanks to its triple-digit price tag. However, Liquor.com finds the additional aging offers a smooth and sweet flavor and medium-bodied oak on the palate, even if the bottle is a pricey fit on your shelf at home. The site says this reposado is richer than most and driven by “candied fruit,” similar to a sherry-aged whiskey or cognac. Compared to the trend of other aged tequilas taking on the oakiness of scotch, Clase Azul is a fresh choice.
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Why Is The Mezcal Worm Still Used Today
Older commercialized mezcal brands have not deviated from the pack of new generation mezcal producers.
Even today, the marketing gimmick still helps separate themselves from the other producers.
The mezcal worm is also used as a rite of passage when drinking mezcal with friends.
If you are the new mezcal drinker among the group person who finishes the bottle of mezcal has to eat the worm.
Why Does Tequila Have A Worm In It
Origins to why its there in the first place are pretty murky but there are two stories that make sense. The first of which is simply a marketing ploy. Which to be fair, works wonders. When staring unknowingly at a shelf of mezcal it can be difficult to choose one. When there’s a drowned worm in the bottom of the bottle that stands out, promotes curiosity and hence makes you want to buy it.
The second comes from a suggested old strategy for telling different bottles apart. On agave plantations, Jimadors who harvest the agave would often end up with different bottles of interchangeable light colour liquid, both tequila and mezcal. In order to tell them apart they would pluck the dead worm from the agave plant and place it in the mezcal bottles. Somewhat of a glorified name tag if you will.
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Does Worm In Tequila Make You Hallucinate
The worm does not give you hallucinations, and it is not an aphrodisiac. The credit here goes to the amount of Tequila or Mezcal a person consumes. Oddly enough, there are many kinds of gusano de maguey , but only the Chinicuil Gusano is used. So, when you eat the worm, you are partaking in tradition.
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Why Is There A Worm In Jose Cuervo Tequila
I just found a larval worm moth on an agave plant. Those are not worms, theyre worm moth larvae. It is not tequila, it is mezcal that is in the bottle with the worm. Worms have been prepared and pickled for about a year, so they are safe to eat. You shouldnt mix a bait worm into your Jose Cuervo bottle.
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What Colour Is Snake Blood
Snake blood is red, but within the red spectrum the blood color can vary from dark brown to a yellow tinge. Like other animals, they bleed if someone cuts them, but some have the ability to use their blood as projectiles. Not all snake blood is poisonous, and some can even have beneficial effects on humans.
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Why Dont You Eat The Worm In Tequila
worm in tequila isnt really in the beverage as is commonly believed. An unidentified Mexican mezcal maker discovered a moth larva in a batch of mezcal during the 1950s, and that was the start of the worm legend. The owner of this mezcal business found that it actually tasted better with the worm in it.
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Why Do They Put The Gusano In Mezcal
In Mexico, the gusano can be considered a delicacy when prepared properly. I had a plate of pan-fried and seasoned gusanos at the four-star Casareyna in Puebla Centro years ago and that dish brings me back there every trip. But you dont have to go the four-star route to find gusanos on the menu in Mexico theyve been a staple for centuries.
Should I Eat The Tequila Worm
If youre up for a bit of adventure. Who isnt? According to a trusted Saucey colleague, the worm tastes like chicken. His first advice? Dont down a shot with the worm. Sip the mezcal slowly for its agave flavors and aromas. Second advice? Chew the worm and enjoy the taste on your palette.
For all the over-achievers out there, you can always find a bottle of scorpion mezcal . Dont worry, the stinger and poison are removed, plus, it is FDA approved. Intrepid drinkers only.
The bottom line is, mezcal and tequila are worth enjoying, worm or not. Especially when it can be delivered to me in 30 minutes by Saucey. Enjoy the experience of the spirit first and foremost and eat bugs if the fates present them.
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Is Monte Alban A Real Mezcal
I have serious doubts that Monte Alban is a real mezcal. All tequilas and mezcals carry an identification number granted by the Mexican government and this bottle does not have a registration number .
According to some reports it turned out that Subway does not use real tuna on its sandwiches and other corporate abuses have been uncovered.
So dont be surprised to discover that Monte Alban is not mezcal as it does not smell or taste like one. Monte ALban is likely to have some traces of agave drowned in chemical compounds that I stronlgy suggest you to avoid by all means.
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What Do They Taste Like
Tequila worms taste like mezcal because they have been pickled in alcoholic beverages for a long period.
Some people claim it tastes like chicken, but when we tried eating the worm, it had a flavor similar to almonds. Also, it is not crunchy but chewy in texture.
Nowadays, many people love to pour worm salt or gusano with chili powder in orange, then consume it.
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Are Tequila Worms Psychedelic
Its called a gusano in Mexico. Even though the worm is closely associated with the agave plant, we cant really figure out when it started appearing in Mezcal bottles. Some great Mezcals are made with the worm in the bottle, but most arent. And, no, the worm doesnt have any hallucinogenic effects.
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Why Is It There And What Happens When You Eat The Worm
Jackson was a world traveler and considered herself open to any adventure. But, tonight, she was put on the spot. For an extra $5, her tequila shot would include the Worm. El Maguey.
She had heard that the worm was psychedelic, but she was highly skeptical. The real problem was that it was a worm. Can she get up the gumption to eat a worm? Her friends were sure she could. Jackson, Jackson, Jackson, they chanted as she looked at the red Chinicuil worm. Following in the tradition of so many college kids before her, she took the shot and swallowed the worm in one gulp. ¡HUZZAH!
Chinicuil worms are actually caterpillars. They are the larvae of the Comadia redtenbacheri moth in the family Cossidae. The larvae are found in the same Agave plants used to make Tequila and Mezcal.
Although The Worm is commonly thought of being in Tequila here in the states, its traditionally found in Mezcal.
And, that tradition is not a tradition at all. Its more of a gimmick than a tradition. In fact, Mezcal, with the worm in it, is considered a sign of poor quality mezcal. A quality Mezcal needs no gimmicks. The same is true of Tequila.
So How Did the Worm Get into the Bottle? And Why is it There?
It seems no one knows. There are many stories on who first began marketing Tequila with the worm in it. One thing they all have in common is that it was purely a marketing ploy.
Today, in Mexico, it is illegal to add the worm to a commercial bottle of Tequila.
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Is It Tequila Or Mezcal
If youve come all this way looking for brands of tequila with worm in it, youre going to be slightly disappointed. There never has been any brands of tequila with a critter at the bottom. Its a misconception. The Mexican spirit that does have a worm in the bottle is called Mezcal. Yes, both tequila and mezcal are similar, so its easy to see how the mistake can be madebut there is no worm in tequila.
How To Fish With A Trick Worm
When twitched, a trick worm jumps back and forth like a walking plug, almost in a walking-the-dog manner. It can be fished in many ways but the most effective is to twitch it just under the surface, then pause and let the worm sink. Sometimes bass come up and hit the worm on top and you can see them.
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Improves The Agaves Taste
In theory, a mezcal maker named Jacobo Lozano Páez found out that the larvae improve agave taste when added to mezcal. Distilling the agave plants can produce tequilas and mezcals, but theres a difference.
A bottle must have 51% blue agave at least to make a true tequila . In comparison, mezcal can be made from a blend of one of 250 types of cactus-like succulents as considered tequila.
With that, tequila is a kind of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. Since worms live and feed off the blue agave plant, it is speculated that the worm changes the taste of agave in mezcals.
What Is A Tequila Worm
Everyone calls it the tequila worm, but heres another thing thats going to blow your mind. Its not in tequila, and its not a worm. Gasp!
Unfortunately, mezcal moth larva or mezcal caterpillar dont sound that great either.
So yes, youve read that correctly. The tequila worm is, in actuality, the larva from a species of moth. The Mexicans call the larvae gusano de maguey, or worm of agave. Maguey is the Spanish word for agave, the plant from which both tequila and mezcal are distilled.
There are two kinds of moth larva that can be used. The first is from the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus. The beetle larva has red coloring. The second is from a moth species called Comadia redtenbacheri, of the Cossidae moth family. This is the white larva you see most often, though its common for both kinds of larva to be used.
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Will Eating A Tequila Worm Make Me Sick
That is a difficult question to answer. Maybe? They are pretty damn small and if you swallow it whole washing it down with mezcal then you shouldnt even feel it in your mouth. However if you decide to chomp on it as if youre in a bush tucker trial then you are probably going to taste it.
As for throwing up and physically being sick, that depends on how squeamish you are. They dont necessarily taste disgusting, it’s more the thought of what it is that gets people. A baby moth.
Brands That Put Worms In Mezcal
Gusano Rojo mezcal, which is produced by Nacional Vinicola was the first bottle of spirits to include the worm. Later, Jacobo Lozano Páez and Andres Paniagua opted to put the worm in another mezcal, Dos Gusanos.
Other brands include:
- Wahaka Reposado Con Gusano
- Monte Alban Mezcal Con Gusano
- Vodka Villa Lobos not a mezcal the selling point for this vodka is the rare use of the mezcal worm.
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What Is The Worm In Your Tequila
The worm isnt technically a worm. It is a larva of a moth that live on the agave plant . Weve all heard the theory of a higher-proof tequila when a worm has been deposited in a bottle.
Legend has it that consuming the tequila worm may cause hallucinations or increase your state of drunkenness but is it true? Not really.