10 Tequila Facts That Will Make You Look Like A Connoisseur

The governing body that presides over the rules and regulations of the tequila industry prohibits the inclusion of the worm in any tequila. This "worm" is typically either the larvae of the Agave Snout Weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus, or the Hypopta Agavis Moth, Hypopta agavis. These "worms" are more commonly found in mezcals, which are made in the less regulated areas.

The state of Jalisco and designated areas of the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas are the ONLY areas designated to grow the blue agave found in tequila.

This succulent isn't classified as a cactus. It is more closely related to the lily and amaryllis.

All tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas.

Mezcals are any alcohol distilled from agave species. Tequila is specialized since it can ONLY be made from the blue agave.

coa (n.) - sharp, round-ended tool used by the harvester to cut the leaves off the head of the agave.

tahona (n.) - traditional, large wood or stone wheel turned by donkeys, oxen, or tractors that is used to mash up the agave pulp. It produces a coarse paste and sweet sap that is fermented to make tequila.

jimador (n.) - harvester of the agave.

autoclave (n.) - large pressure cookers used to steam the piñas. By cooking, the sugars found in the agave begin to concentrate.

piña (n.) - literally pineapple — after the leaves are cut off the head of the agave, it resembles the look of a pineapple.