subject: Agave: Fun Facts [print this page] Since ancient times humans have been producing alcohol. At one time in our evolution we discovered that fruits and berries could be turned into wine, and that beer could be created from grains, etc. Perhaps early humans watched local animals become drunk on half-rotten fruits, or perhaps the process of fermentation was discovered by some other accident; whatever the case, it has served to add to the beverage repertoire of various cultures for centuries. During fermentation, yeast breaks down sugars, as it works to consume them, and alcohol is formed. Many different plants can be used to make alcohol, and in Europe grape-based wine has been very popular for centuries. In the region that is today Mexico, ancient Mesoamerican tribes perfected their own brew, based on the fermentation of agave juices. Agave is a type of succulent that is native to Mexico, and it forms the basis of the tequila that is produced today.
Tequila is Mexico's national drink and is among the most consumed beverages in the world; agave being it's source. It blooms and dies each year, as it is a perennial monocot plant; each rosette producing only a single flower. They're commonly called 'century plants' because of this tendency; they're one of the few long-lived species that will only have one chance at spreading its genetic information. While many assume that the genus is related to cacti, it's a misconception; they're actually more closely related to aloe.
The agave is mostly native to Mexico, though there are a few species found in the southwestern United States and a few spots in South America. The plants are adept at retaining water, and their fleshy strong leaves form a rosette that grows out from the center. The stem is quite short normally; as a plant it produces a small number of flowers on a tall stalk. Once the fruit is developed on this long, skinny mast, the entire plant will die.
The plant has been divided into four common species. Agave americana is also called 'maguey' in Mexico. It is used in syrup and sugar production. very uncommon to Mesoamerica, attenuata is actually native to the area; its flowers are curved and has a spiky shape, resembling a foxtail. A tequilana, as its name would suggest, is chiefly used in the production of tequila. And A angustifolia is used to make mezcal, a similar drink.
Agave has had many uses over the centuries. It has four edible parts: the sap, called honey water, is just one of the elements of the plant that includes leaves, flowers and stalk. The local cultures fermented the juices into liquors, cooked and ate the root, and even made paper and clothing from its leaves. The nectar produced by the sap is often used as an alternative to sugar, and will be added as a binding agent to some foods. There's no doubt; the agave is a helpful succulent that is far more than the tequila it makes.
