Blue Agave

You’ve probably had tequila and it may be one of your favorite drinks, but do you know where it’s from? Blue agave is the protagonist of this traditional Mexican drink.

What is blue agave or tequilana agave?

Blue agave is one of the most important products for the Mexican economy, since thanks to it tequila is prepared, one of the representative drinks of our country. In addition, it´s an ideal plant for the preparation of alcoholic beverages due to its high production of sugars.

Tequilana agave in its blue variant is the base ingredient to make tequila and is a succulent plant that is grown in the region known as the Denomination of Origin of Tequila (DOT), which includes the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, and Guanajuato.

There are several species of agave, but blue is probably the most famous member of the family of these plants for being the raw material of tequila, the popular and recognized distilled drink.

In ancient times, agave was used to produce sugars and fibers, mainly. Today, it’s used to make fabric, syrup, nectar, and sugar substitute, but its main use is to produce tequila that can only be obtained through this plant.

Description of blue agave

Blue agave is composed of numerous thick, fleshy leaves arranged in the form of a rosette; the tips of the leaves have a needle and thorny margins and give the impression of arising from the root, but their stem is woody and short.

It’s a monocarpic plant, that is, it blooms only once in its life; it takes him about a decade to flourish and he soon dies. To obtain the distillate, the stem is used before flowering, this happens when the agave is about 7 to 12 years old.

At the end of its cycle, its center develops a protrusion (quiote) that becomes a stem up to 16 feet high, covered with yellow flowers. The flowers are pollinated by a species of bat and produce thousands of seeds per plant.

Blue agave is a plant that’s adapted to efficiently use water, which allows it to survive in arid and semi-arid conditions: they withstand stress conditions caused by the environment, such as water deficit, high temperatures and salinity.

The root system of agaves is superficial, which makes it easier for the plant to absorb rainwater. The agave reaches physiological maturity when it’s between 8 and 10 years of age and its life cycle can be up to 12 years.

Agave species

Mexico is a country with a great diversity of agave plants, from the best known and most popular as the blue to species that you have probably never heard of. There’re more than 160 species of agave in Mexico and here we´ll name a few:

• Coyote. It grows alone and has an average lifespan of 15 years. Its pineapple is of medium size, its pencas don’t reach six feet and produces a mezcal of great body, dense and with little perceptible smell.
• Tepextate. It’s one of the longest-lived agaves since it has an average life span of 15 to 25 years. It develops in dry and shallow soils. Its pencas are wide and its tips wavy. When distilled in a clay pot it gives a feeling of freshness, has great mineral strength and floral accents.
• Sierra negra. This type of agave takes about 25 years to mature, has a limited production per seed and because of that the production of its mezcal is quite limited. Its broad leaves measure from 9 to 11 inches. It has smoky and fruity notes. It’s par excellence one of the most special mezcals in Oaxaca.
• Jabalí. Its life span is 8 to 12 years, it grows among the rocks and its rosettes are dense, three feet high and with a diameter that goes up to six feet. In it sweet and dense elements have been discovered. Distilled in clay pots, it takes on dry and wild flavors; after taking it leaves a caramel flavor in the mouth.
• Tobala. Its name is originally from the Zapotec that occurs in rock and clay soil. Its rose shape makes its beauty remarkable. It grows among pines and oaks, something that helps it withstand drought. It has smoky, light, and subtle flavors unique to its kind.

What’s blue agave or tequilana agave used for?

Blue agave is the plant used to make tequila. Now it could be a good symbol for diabetics since it could also serve to reduce blood sugar and even help people with obesity lose weight.

How is this possible? Mexican researchers have created a sweetener from this plant that could lower glucose levels for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. The main reason could be that agaves, a natural form of sugar found in blue agave, are not digestible and can act as a dietary fiber, without raising blood glucose.

Experts in the field defend that agaves derived from the tequila plant are better than artificial sweeteners.

On the other hand, within the uses of blue agave is the ornamental because it’s very decorative, ideal for gardens of very low maintenance. Also, for pots and pots placed on balconies, gardens, or terraces.

But we can’t forget its culinary use, the most popular: to make tequila with the sugars extracted from the center of the rosette.

Benefits of this type of agave

•  It has more properties than sugars, sucrose, or glucose.
•  It doesn’t crystallize because it doesn’t contain sugar.
•   It increases the water retention properties in food, which is known as hygroscopicity.
•  It’s 100% fermentable, thanks to yeast.
• Agave stimulates good digestion.
• Helps reduce cholesterol levels.
•  It doesn’t cause cavities.
•  Promotes the growth of the intestinal microbiota.
• High content of components and bacteria that allow the proper functioning of the digestive system.

Properties of blue agave

Agave is a plant rich in anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, while helping to strengthen our body’s immune system. In addition, it’s a plant rich in vitamins A, B, B2, C, phosphorus, iron, niacin, and proteins.

Agave also has prebiotic properties that facilitate intestinal transit; while it’s rich in fructooligosaccharides and inulin, which gives it a sweet taste and allows it to function as a sweetener with a glycemic index of less than 25%.

Don’t forget that another of the most popular drinks in Mexico is mezcal, which is also made with this plant that has proven to have various qualities and uses. Discover the differences between mezcal and tequila and each one’s characteristics. We invite you to learn more about our brand, production process, and everything we have for lovers of good mezcal. Discover Mezcal cocktail recipes people created and shared with us that you will love!

La Luna Mezcal makes an Expression, Tequilana, using Blue Agave to represent the historical taste of Michoacans with this agave