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Did you know that, by law, tequila must be made with at least 38 percent alcohol? Find out what comprises the other 62 percent.
What is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo translates to “fifth of May” and is a holiday celebrated in certain regions of Mexico, particularly in the state of Puebla. It is not an obligatory national holiday but one that is observed voluntarily. The reason for this holiday? It commemorates the Mexican army’s surprising victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
This battle was important to Mexican history because, going into battle, the Mexican army was outnumbered by the French, who were much more well-equipped to go into battle and stomp the enemy. The second reason this holiday has so much meaning is that since the Battle of Puebla, no country besides France has invaded the Americas.
How is tequila made?
Tequila is a distilled spirit produced only in Mexico in the region of Tequila. To begin, you must have ripe blue agave plants. When the plants reach peak ripeness, after about eight years, the leaves are removed and the pina remains. It is cut up and roasted so that starches turn to sugar. The pinas are pressed and the juice is squeezed from them; then fermentation will begin turning the sugars to alcohol. After fermentation, the juice is distilled two or three times to smooth out the rough edges and to capture the delicious flavor of the agave. By law, tequila must be at least 38 percent alcohol, made from all-natural ingredients and harvested in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit or Tamaulipas.
