Noah Vinter
It is a common misconception that tequila has a worm in the bottle. In reality, it is mezcal, a Mexican spirit distilled from the agave plant, that contains a worm at the bottom of the bottle. Mezcal is similar to tequila, as both are made by distilling the agave plant, but tequila must be at least 51% blue agave to be classified as such. The worm in mezcal is actually an insect larva, specifically a moth larva called a gusano de maguey, which feeds on the agave plant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Alcohol | Mezcal |
| Worm Type | Moth Larva, Maguey Worm, Gusano de Maguey, Gusano Rojo, Gusano |
| Worm Colour | Red, White |
| Worm Taste | Gusano Rojo is tastier than the white maguey worm |
| Worm Texture | Pickled |
| Worm Size | Small enough to fit inside a bottle |
| Worm Life Stage | Caterpillar |
| Moth Type | Comadia redtenbacheri, Cossidae family of moths |
| Worm Life Cycle | Turns into a butterfly called the Mariposa if not drowned in alcohol |
| Worm Diet | Heart of the Maguey, Agave Plant, Agave Leaves |
| Bottle Contents | Alcohol, Worm |
| Bottle Colour | Transparent (allows visualization of the worm) |
| Bottle Brand | Monte Alban |
| Related Superstitions | Brings good fortune and strength |
| Related Concerns | Health and safety, Marketing ploy, Alcohol potency |
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What You'll Learn
Mezcal is the alcohol with a worm
It is a common misconception that tequila contains a worm. In reality, it is mezcal, a close cousin of tequila, that contains a worm. Mezcal is a Mexican spirit distilled from the agave plant. The "worm" is actually a moth larva called a gusano de maguey, which feeds on the agave plant. There are two types of larvae that can be used: the red larva, which is the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, and the white larva, which is the larva of the moth Comadia redtenbacheri and is the most commonly used.
The practice of adding larvae to mezcal is relatively recent, with Jacobo Lozano Paez first introducing it in 1950 (although some sources claim it was in the 1940s). The larvae are added to the mezcal to change the flavour of the spirit and to bring good fortune and strength to the drinker. The mezcal worm is not alive, but it is edible and can be eaten as a snack or even as a dare.
While it may seem like a fun and exotic idea to drink alcohol with a worm in it, it is important to note that mezcal with a worm is generally considered lower quality. The worm is often added as a marketing ploy, and its presence may indicate that the producer is more focused on marketing than on the quality or flavour of the mezcal. Additionally, mezcal without a worm is considered the "good stuff".
The presence of the worm in mezcal has also led to some confusion, with some people mistakenly believing that tequila also contains a worm. This misconception may have arisen due to the similarity between tequila and mezcal, as they are both made from the agave plant. However, tequila must be at least 51% Blue Agave, while mezcal can be made from a blend of one of 250 types of the cactus-like succulent.
In conclusion, it is mezcal, not tequila, that contains a worm. While the idea of drinking a worm may be off-putting to some, the practice of adding larvae to mezcal is relatively common and is believed to bring good luck and enhance the flavour of the drink. However, consumers should be aware that mezcal with a worm may be of lower quality and is best avoided if one is seeking a well-crafted spirit.
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Tequila doesn't have a worm
The "worm" is actually a moth larva called a gusano de maguey, which feeds off the maguey plant (agave, the plant used to make tequila and mezcal). There are two types of larvae that can be used: the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, which is red, and the larva of the moth Comadia redtenbacheri, which is white and the most popular. These larvae are eaten regularly in Mexico, without tequila or any double-dog daring. If they weren't drowned in alcohol, these larvae would turn into beautiful butterflies (or moths, to be precise).
So, where did the idea of a "tequila worm" come from? It's a common misconception, popularized by movies and tequila lollipops. The worm actually belongs in bottles of mezcal, tequila's smokier cousin. Mezcal can be made from any variety of maguey succulents, while tequila must be at least 51% Blue Agave. The worm wasn't even a traditional aspect of mezcal production. The idea that mezcal contains a worm seems to have originated in the 1940s or 1950s as a marketing ploy to boost mezcal sales and differentiate it from tequila, which was flooding the US market at the time. Jacobo Lozano Paez, a former art student-turned-mezcal entrepreneur, is credited with the idea of adding the gusano to mezcal bottles.
The inclusion of the worm was accompanied by myths and legends about the special powers it would bring, such as virility, good fortune, and hallucinations. However, these stories are just that—stories. While it's true that the gusano changes the flavor of the spirit, the presence of a worm in your bottle of mezcal is more of a marketing strategy than an indicator of quality. In fact, it's generally recommended to steer clear of mezcal with worms, as it often indicates a focus on marketing rather than flavor.
So, the next time someone challenges you to eat the worm at the bottom of a tequila bottle, you can politely decline, knowing that it's just a myth and that tequila never had a worm to begin with.
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The worm is a moth larva
It is a common misconception that tequila has a worm in the bottle. In reality, it is mezcal, a Mexican spirit distilled from agave plants, that contains a worm. Mezcal is tequila's "cousin", with a smokier flavour. While tequila must be at least 51% Blue Agave, mezcal can be made from a blend of one of 250 types of the cactus-like succulents.
The "worm" is actually a moth larva, specifically, the caterpillar of the Comadia redtenbacheri moth, known as a chinicuil or gusano rojo ("red worm"). The red worm is considered tastier than a white maguey worm. The moth larva feeds off the maguey plant (agave). There is also a second type of larva that can be found in mezcal, which is the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, a type of weevil known as picudo del agave, or the agave snout weevil.
The practice of adding larvae to mezcal was first introduced by Jacobo Lozano Paez in 1950, although some sources state that he began the practice in the 1940s. He found that the larvae changed the taste of the agave and so began adding it to his spirits. The larvae are also believed to bring good fortune and strength to the person who finds it in their glass. The high alcohol content of mezcal also serves to preserve the larvae and their DNA.
While it is safe to eat the worm, it is recommended to avoid mezcal with a worm inside, as it is usually an indication that the brand has a greater focus on marketing than flavour.
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Mezcal is distilled from the agave plant
It is a common misconception that tequila contains a worm. In reality, it is mezcal, a close relative of tequila, that contains a worm. Mezcal is distilled from the agave plant, a cactus-like succulent. While tequila must be at least 51% Blue Agave to be classified as such, mezcal can be made from a blend of over 250 types of agave.
The "worm" in mezcal is actually an insect larva, specifically a moth larva known as a gusano or maguey worm. There are two types of larvae used: the red larva, which is the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, and the white larva, which is the larva of the moth Comadia redtenbacheri. These larvae live and feed on the agave plant until they are plucked off and added to bottles of mezcal.
The practice of adding larvae to mezcal is believed to have originated in the 1940s or 1950s as a marketing ploy to increase mezcal sales. The idea is attributed to a former art student and mezcal entrepreneur named Jacobo Lozano Paez, who discovered that the larvae changed the flavor of the spirit. The larvae are also believed to bring good fortune and strength to the person who consumes them.
While it is safe to eat the worm, it is important to note that mezcal with a worm is generally considered lower quality and more focused on marketing than flavor. The presence of the worm is an indication that the mezcal brand prioritizes novelty over the quality of their product.
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The worm adds colour and flavour
It is a common misconception that tequila has a worm in the bottle. In reality, it is mezcal, a close cousin of tequila, that contains a worm. Mezcal is a Mexican spirit distilled from the agave plant. The "worm" is actually an insect larva, specifically a moth larva called a gusano de maguey, which feeds on the agave plant. There are two types of larvae used: a red larva, which is the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, and a white larva, which is the larva of the moth Comadia redtenbacheri and is the most commonly used.
The presence of the worm adds colour and flavour to the mezcal. The red worm is typically considered tastier than the white worm. The practice of adding larvae to mezcal was first introduced by Jacobo Lozano Paez in 1950 (although some sources claim it was in the 1940s). Paez discovered that the larvae changed the taste of the agave and so began adding it to his spirits. The high alcohol content of mezcal also serves to preserve the larvae and their DNA.
While the addition of the worm was initially a marketing ploy, it has become an accepted part of mezcal culture. The worm is also believed to bring good fortune and strength to the person who finds it in their glass. However, it is important to note that mezcal without the worm is considered higher quality, as the presence of the worm is often an indication of a focus on marketing over flavour.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mexican spirit Mezcal sometimes has a worm in it. Tequila does not have a worm, despite popular belief.
The "worm" is actually a moth larva, specifically the caterpillar of the Comadia redtenbacheri moth, also known as a maguey worm or gusano de maguey.
Theories vary. Some say that the larva changes the flavour of the spirit, while others believe that it brings good fortune and strength, or that it serves as evidence of the mezcal's potency.
