With a history of more than 11 million years,

agave is the basic raw material used to produce

the traditional Mexican spirits mezcal and tequila.

They are perennial plants and grow primarily in Mexico

from sea level to altitudes of 3 400 metres above sea level.

 

68% of Mexico's agaves are endemic Agave grows very slowly and is a plant adapted to live in adverse climatic conditions with long dry periods and high temperatures.

The quality of the agave from which mezcal is obtained

is deeply influenced by the environment in which it grows. Soil type, altitude, exposure, water availability

and surrounding vegetation play a key role in shaping

the growth patterns and sugar content of agave, which in turn influence the potential quality of the resulting spirit.

 

Mezcal is produced from approximately 42 different agave species, some of which you can read about below.