National Tequila Day 2022: Drink in some surprising facts

It’s National Tequila Day in the United States – Sunday, July 24. After the year we’ve had so far, you can’t blame anyone for wanting to take a bracing shot or two (responsibly, of course).

In honor of the holiday, here are six surprising facts you might not have known about tequila.

It’s from a plant (which means it’s healthy, right?)

Have no fear, gluten-free folks! Tequila is perfectly all right for you to drink. Tequila is made from fermenting the juice from the blue agave plant, which has a core called piña because it looks a little like a pineapple.

Once the piña is harvested, it’s brought to a distillery to be roasted to unleash its juices, which are fermented, distilled and aged before being bottled.

Tequila is a type of mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila

OK, it’s a little confusing, so let’s break it down. Mezcal and tequila are made from agave, but tequila can be made only from the blue agave plant. More than 30 varieties of agave can be used to make mezcal, according to Food & Wine. The flavor profiles can be a little different, with mezcal being smokier.

Tequila must be made in a specific area of Mexico

You know how true Champagne has to be made in the Champagne region of France? It’s a similar thing here. In order to be labeled tequila, production has to occur in the state of Jalisco or in some neighboring states. But most tequila production is in Jalisco.

Tequila was born in, you guessed it, Tequila

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

Tequila, the town: This Mexican town is home to the popular spirit of the same name.

Courtesy Fundación Beckmann

A toast to the women: No one knows exactly when women became an integral part of growing agave, but it's believed that they've been working in the agave fields since the 16th century,

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

Travel in Tequila: Visitors come to learn about the history of the spirit and watch traditional dance and music performances.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

The José Cuervo Express: The tequila train, as it's often called, takes passengers on a journey through the Rio Grande Canyon, which provides sweeping views of bluish agave fields and midget oaks spanning against the backdrop of Tequila volcano.

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

Agave fields: The Jose Cuervo Express passes through endless fields and gives travelers a look at the Jalisco countryside.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

Division of labor: Mexican farmers (jimadors) wearing cowboy hats cultivate and harvest the prickly cactus-like agave plants.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

The work of women: Tequila's women select, care for and plant the small delicate seedling, called hijuelos (little children) after they've been harvested.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

Process: The women inspect, clean and sort the young plants and send them to the nursery for further care, until they are ready to be planted.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

More than a drink: Alma Karina Cordero Villalobos, Evelyn Monserrat Achutigui Serna and Sandra Elizabeth Serna Caballero make paper books from agave for additional income.

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

Hotel Solar de las Animas: The boutique five-star property, located in the heart of Tequila, supports the crafts made by local women through their gift shop and guest amenities.

Courtesy Fundación Beckmann

The art of it all: Carolina Garcia Torres works with recycled tequila and wine bottles to create decorative vases and other pieces, which she then sells for extra income for her family.

Courtesy Fundación Beckmann

Fogones y Metates: An annual culinary festival organized by Fundación Beckmann is meant to further preserve the cultural heritage of the women of Tequila.

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

Culinary entrepreneur: Evalia Castaneda Rivera makes juices, jams and sauces using organic ingredients from her ranch.

Courtesy Kaitlyn Mathis

La Cocina de Evalia Rivera: Guests are invited to dine on home-cooked specialty dishes in Evalia Castaneda Rivera's kitchen.

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

Market items: Tequila's women create from-scratch items and share their culinary knowledge with visitors.

Courtesy Sucheta Rawal

History and culture: Tequila is a fascinating town where the women play a strong role in maintaining traditions and ensure that the tequila way of life continues.

And yes, the city is in Jalisco. It’s the birthplace of the iconic drink, where indigenous Mexicans would ferment the juice of the blue agave before it became the staple it is now. Many distilleries are still based in the town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006.

If not for women, tequila may not even exist

Historically, the women of Tequila (as in the town) have been the ones who cultivated the blue agave plants, called hijuelos (little children). Women can still be seen today working the fields from February to July, when the plants sprout.

Another celebrity joins the tequila club

For some reason, celebrities like investing in tequila. Mark Wahlberg joined the ranks in early 2022. It’s not just the actor’s go-to drink of choice, but he invested in a line of tequlia called Flecha Azul, co-founded by Mexican PGA golfer Abraham Ancer and entrepreneur Aron Marquez.

Top image: A view of a Volcan De Mi Tierra tequila cocktail. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for WARDROBE.NYC)

This story is an update from previous versions, the first published in 2019.