The beverage called tequila is really a variety of mescal, made wholly or mostly from the blue agave plant. This plant is native to the Tequila area so this version of mescal was named after the town. Use of the agave plant goes far back into the pre-Hispanic period. The “piña” (lit. pineapple) or heart of the plant was used by the indigenous peoples cooked as a sweet, and as the base for a fermented alcoholic beverage.
This aerial picture shows the agave fields of Tequila Jalisco.
Cheers!
Agave Fields, Tequila Jalisco, Mexico
