Why is there a worm in some tequila and what happens if you consume it?!
Why is there a worm in some tequila and what happens if you consume it?
I recently received a bottle of tequila as a gift that has a worm in it.
Answers:
"Tequila Myth #1:
There's a worm in tequila.
There is no worm in Mexican-bottled tequila. Yes, some American-bottled brand(s) put one in their bottle to impress the gringos and boost sales, but it's only a marketing ploy and not a Mexican tradition. There is a worm - called a gusano, properly a butterfly caterpillar (Hipopta Agavis) - in some types of mezcal (but not all). You may also get a small bag of 'worm salt' - dried gusano, salt and chile powder tied to a mezcal bottle.
The worm-in-the-bottle myth is old and tired. The truth has been broadcast and expounded for years by the cognoscenti of tequila, in newspapers, magazines and on the Net. There should be no need to defend tequila; we should not have to dispel this myth further. It is merely an urban legend.
Is the worm even a traditional element in mezcal production? Not according to Del Maguey Mezcal producers: they say it's a recent development, a marketing ploy that appeared only in the 1940s to try and get more attention on mezcal - and they should know. It's worth reading their story at: www.mezcal.com/worms.html.
There are two types of gusano in mezcal: the red (gusano rojo - considered superior because it lives in the root and heart of the maguey) and the less-prized white or gold (gusano de oro), which lives on the leaves. The red gusano turns pale in the mezcal, the gold turns ashen-grey. Both larvae are commonly eaten as food and are sold in Zapotec markets.
Yes, you're supposed to eat the worm in mezcal. Don't worry: it's quite well pickled and free of pesticides (they're often raised just for use in mezcal, cooked and pickled in alcohol for a year). But dispel any idea it has any magical or psychotropic properties, that it's an aphrodisiac or the key to an 'unseen world.' It's merely protein and alcohol - but it's very rich in imagery."
Source(s):
www.ianchadwick.com
There are theories that the worm makes you see things that the alcohol doesn't. Basically hallucinate. I don't know I don't like bugs so I've never tried it. It won't hurt you though.
It's the traditional tequila. It isn't considered real tequila without the worm. There is no change in flavor due to the presence of the worm and if you eat the worm - which some folks do - there'll be no discernible flavor other than the tequila. It's really up to you whether or not you eat the worm - in honesty, most folks this side of the border with Mexico find it a bit gross, but it certainly won't harm you if you choose to eat it. Guys in the college fraternity circuit will, just to, as they imagine, prove their machismo.
I don't know what it is for, but over time(even just a little) it absorbs alot of alcohol and if you consume it you will probably get alcohol poisioning. it has more alcohol in it then the whole rest of the bottle!
If it has a worm it is not tequila it is mescal. The worm comes from the agave cactus and is included in the bottle as a tradition. It is claimed to bring luck, wisdom and vitality. Some even say it will make you hallucinate but that's not true. Bottoms up!
All About Tequila and Mezcal
http://www.tastings.com/spirits/tequila....
There is no worm in Mexican-bottled tequila
http://www.tequilaworms.co.uk/myth.html...
Tequila :: How to drink it, how it is made and about the worm.
http://www.tequila-stuff.com/tequila/teq...
Tequila - The Essence of Mexico
http://www.loscabosguide.com/tequila/teq...
it is widely believed that the reason for the worm was to show the strength of the alcohol. If it pickled the worm and kept it from breaking apart then the mezcal was strong enough and not watered down. Mezcal really gets the short end of the stick often and a good Mezcal is just as enjoyable as a good tequila. Also, it isn’t actually a worm at all but a caterpillar (Hipopta Agavis) called a guano. As for the effects it has on you, I was told that it makes you see things also.
Salute!
Virilty, Vitality, Vivacity
I really couldn't tell you why the worm is in the bottom of the bottle. But after enough tequila, the worm would probably look pretty tasty.