The internet is full of fabulous facts about everything from current events to the history basket weaving. As we research for our daily content on food trucks, food carts and street food, we stumble upon some items of knowledge that we just did not know.

We have decided when these fun facts pop up, that we would share them with our readers in our section titled “Did You Know?”

For today’s Did You Know we will look at Tequila fun facts.

Tequila Fun Facts: Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, 40 miles northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state of Jalisco.

  • The blue volcanic soil in the surrounding region is particularly well suited to the growing of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year.
  • July 24th is National Tequila Day.
  • Tequila was used as a flu remedy during Mexico’s flu epidemic of 1918.
  • You’re supposed to sip good tequila slowly, not down it in a shot.
  • Tequila is most often made at a 38–40% alcohol content (76–80 proof), but can be produced between 31–55% alcohol content (62–110 proof).
  • Mezcal, is tequila’s less popular and lesser understood cousin, which can be produced by 5 other different types of agave, not including the Blue Weber species.
  • There are two categories of tequila – 100% agave (quality assured) and mixto (a gamble)
  • Mixto tequila is a mix of fermented agave juice and up to 49% “neutral cane spirit” (AKA:fermented sugarcane with its flavor stripped out). Mixing the two is a cheaper way to make tequila, but the resulting flavor is less complex. The high amount of sugar found in Mixto tequila is directly related to morning after headaches often associated with tequila.
  • 100% agave tequila, on the other hand, is distilled entirely from the fermented juice of agave, with no artificial flavors added. The best tequilas are made from 100% agave and a quality guarantee for the educated tequila consumer. ALWAYS buy 100% agave tequila.
  • Tequila labeled “Gold” is your indicator (i.e. red flag) that it is a mixto tequila, unaged silver tequila that has been colored and flavored with caramel to give the appearance of aged tequila.
  • The worm in tequila bottles is just a marketing gimmick. It has nothing to do with quality. Basically, it’s like the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks.
  • The 1958 song, “Tequila” was the first, and only, #1 hit for a band called The Champs.

Tequila Fun Facts We Missed

Let us know about any tequila fun facts we missed in the comment section below. If we can verify that the facts is just that, a fact, we will give the reader credit in the article.

Reference: Wikipedia: Fun Facts about Tequila.