Agave Drinks: Pulque, Tequila and Mezcal

The maguey, or agave, is the source of Mexico’s most emblematic drinks. Pulque is a white, thick, mildly alcoholic drink made by fermenting aguamiel, the sap drawn from the heart of the maguey; it has been drunk since pre-Hispanic times, when it was considered sacred.

Tequila and mezcal, by contrast, are distilled: the agave heart (the piña) is cooked, fermented and then distilled. Tequila is made from blue agave, is named after the town of Tequila, Jalisco, and has a protected designation of origin; mezcal is the broader family of agave spirits, typical of Oaxaca.

To remember: pulque is extracted (and fermented) from the maguey; tequila is distilled from agave.