Contrary to popular belief, a true tequila does not contain a worm. Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm. The following information comprises a standardsbased educators guide that the laii has produced to support using the tequila worm wendy lamb books, 2005 in the classroom. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio in mcallen, texas, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions. To instill a love of reading by offering crafts and activities to go along with quality latino literature. This bottle has never been opened it still has the worm intact and a package of salt is attached. Named gusano rojo red worm after the worm that is sometimes found on the agave plants used for the production of mezcal. But if youre looking for the truth about the worm in your tequila, i have some sobering news for you. The work caterpillar is a fun touch but not necessary to consume. The worm is in the bottom of the large bottle and in the small bottle that is roped to the top of the neck of the bottle as well. Up for sale is a bottle of gusano rojo not for consumption decorative collectible purposes only. In the same way, tom bullok explains in his book the mezcal experience that monte alban mezcal followed gusano rojo with its worm. What are the effects of drinking a worm from a tequila.
Gusano rojo mezcal is one of the most popular mezcals in mexico, and is made with 100% agave. One of these is that the worm guarantees the strength of the distilled spirit. The grub in question is the agave worm gusano rojo and there are several theories about its presence in the bottle. I had it on my tbr shelf for a while and finally picked it up from a local book store. Mezcals can be made anywhere in the world, and be made from either green or blue agave. Gusano rojo agave worm tequila vintage bottle 1960s 70s. When a bottle of mezcal contains a worm, the mezcal is described as being con gusano, or with worm in spanish. Complete with a worm theres a cartoon worm on the label, too with arms, legs and a cheeky grin. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions. Why theres a worm in your tequila bottle mindbounce. Get menu, photos and location information for rojo gusano in chicago, il. Stores and prices for nv gusano rojo with worm mezcal tasting notes, market data, prices and stores in usa.
The worm is never found in tequila, says heriberto oviedo, the tequilier like a sommelier for tequila at the cantina beach restaurant at the ritzcarlton in key biscayne, fl. The larva is usually either a gusano rojo red worm or a chinicuil. In theory, if were digging all this virility purity worm infusion stuff, a gusano rojo is a better worm to have in your bottle, since it feeds on the heart of the maguey the part thats roasted. You will never see a worm in tequila, despite the popular myth, but you will see one in some of the lowmarket brands of mezcal such as gusano rojo. The tequila worm begins as vignettes and then moves into a more traditional narrative when sofia, the mexicanamerican protagonist, is a fourteenyearold high school freshman. The worm were all thinking of actually belongs in a bottle of mezcal, tequilas huskier, smokier cousin tequila has to be at least 51% blue agave, but mezcal can be made from any variety of.
Mezcal is the name for the family of mexican alcoholic spirits distilled from various species of the agave genus, known as maguey. The number of mezcal brands is much smaller than the number of tequila brands. I have translated the whole bottle but can not find the brand on the web. To present and evaluate the lessons learned in the tequila worm.
Initially you may not find the idea of wormlaced salt very enticing, but once you try it you may be surprised. Various legends attribute great strength to anyone brave enough to gulp down the agave worm. Sofia is surrounded by the culture and traditions of her familia as she. The standards are not included here, but are included. It is made from 100% agave mezcal reposado and is produced in oaxaca, mexico. The coral tequila worm gusano rojo, which is thought to be the most tasty, buries into the pineappleshaped center of an agave plant the tequila worm is the first novel written by mcallen native viola canales and it is loosely based on some of the events that happened in her life. The white maguey worms, known as meocuiles, are caterpillars of a butterfly commonly named tequila giant skipper, aegiale hesperiaris aegiale hesperiaris is found usually in regions of central mexico, on the leaves of family agavaceae plants, such as. The drink that has worms in and is often confused with tequila is mezcal, a related but different beverage produced in mexico. The worm, however, isnt actually a worm, but the larva of one of two different types of moths that live on the agave plant.
Whether youve ever been challenged to eat the worm in the bottom of a tequila bottle yourself or simply watched someone else do it, you might be wondering what the deal is with the worm in the first place. Or book now at one of our other 11122 great restaurants in chicago. The tequila we will examine today will be gusano rojo which translates to red worm, a 100% agavetequila with an agave worm. Nv gusano rojo with worm mezcal tasting notes, market. It is very unfortunate that mezcal suffers from the reputation it has. It is not a mexcal, which has a worm in the bottle. A mezcal worm is an insect larva found in some types of mezcal produced in oaxaca, mexico. Tequila, is often decribed as a subcategory of mezcal. To be called tequila, the liquor must be 100% blue agave and be produced in just five reg.
The famous gusano worm is only found in some mezcals never tequila. When sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to. Up to now most of the mezcal in the united states was low quality spirit meant to be drunk as quickly as possible to get to the worm at the bottom. Few other books in our time have touched so many readers. Parents have this bottle of mezcal thats about 30 years. In the beginning, a younger sofia relays special familycentered momentssome downright hysterical and others more poignantsuch as her first communion, making. But officials concede that many remain off the books in rural oaxaca to avoid paying taxes. I am not exactly sure of how old this bottle is i know it is over 10 years. Gusano rojo with worm mezcal prices, stores, tasting. These larvae are called gusano and bottles of mezcal that contain the creepy critters are referred to as con gusano. Provided to youtube by cdbaby gusano i am a worm bungee jumpin cows rock candy. The tequila worm is a culturally filled book that is filled with humor and. Indeed, mezcal con gusano, or with the worm, is just one of. Stores and prices for gusano rojo with worm mezcal prices, stores, tasting notes and market data.
Why is there a worm in tequila mezcal and tequila worm effects. Its novelty because of the added worm which started as a marketing gimmick in the 50s. Although the bottle is still sealed, evaporation of the contents has occurred over many years so the bottle is less than half full. When sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to an elite boarding. The tequila worm the tequila worm by viola canales is the selection for the laiis vamos a leer book group meeting held on november 3, 2014. Tastes watered down and tastes industrially made, with no. My friend had this bottle of tequila bought in mexico. In his book, dias blue writes that the insect serves as evidence of a mezcals potency. Rojo gusano brings an elevated, globalfusion spin to the simple street foods of mexico and latin america, presented in a breezy. It was almost exclusively vile stuff that only frat boys drank on dares. The larva is usually either a gusano rojo red worm or a chinicuil maguey worm, the caterpillar of the comadia redtenbacheri moth.
The tequila worm has earned a variety of awards and recognitions. What is the worm in tequila, and what does it do to you. Gusano rojo mezcal bottling note a smoky, slightly sweet mezcal from oaxaca, complete with a worm which the mezcal has been named after gusano rojo means red worm. Rodriguez says his gusano rojo is the best seller in mexico but. Tequila worm the real story behind the tequila worm. According to anthony dias blues complete book of spirits, that worm is actually a larva from one of two types of moths, known as maguey worms, that live on the agave plant. Various legends attribute great strength to anyone brave enough to gulp down. They are not found on cacti, as is often erroneously reported. While tequila suffered the same problems and years ago moved on to a much improved status in both.
Ray foley is the founder and editor of bartender magazine. Worm is still there but he may be shrinking in size. Het sap dat overblijft wordt vervolgens gebruikt ter productie van gusano rojo mezcal. The positive role models in the book are a big part of the success of the story and the book in general.
1527 402 1241 857 643 312 580 493 1173 158 241 1069 870 1367 1406 813 943 905 1427 260 601 48 53 525 425 685 432 1554 763 1068 1122 697 1375 1347 1124 433 1252 1106 846 496 1400