Mezcal

Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from maguey of any variety. Mezcal is derived from the Nahuatl word Mexicali, which means "oven-cooked agave" and is derived from metl and ixcalli. Traditionally, the term "mezcal" has been used broadly in Mexico for all maguey spirits, and it is still used for many maguey spirits, whether or not they have been legally certified as "mezcal", and it is also considered a drink of artisan origin.

Agaves, also known as magueys, are native to Mexico and can be found all over the world. More than 70% of mezcal is produced in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, but it is now produced and sold throughout the country, with a growing national and international market. It is unknown whether distilled drinks were produced in Mexico prior to the Spanish Conquest. The Spaniards were introduced to indigenous fermented beverages such as pulque, which is made from the maguey plant. The conquistadors soon began experimenting with the agave plant in order to create a distillable fermented mash. As a result, mezcal was created.

Mezcal is still made in the 21st century from the heart of the agave plant, known as the pia, in the same way, that it was 200 years ago. Mezcal is commonly consumed straight in Mexico and has a strong smoky flavor. Though other types of mezcal are not as popular as tequila (which is made exclusively from blue agave in certain regions of the country), Mexico does export the product, primarily to Japan and the United States, and exports are increasing.