Unit 2 - Lesson 5 - Agave Flashcards
What is the genus of plants indigenous to the hot and dry regions of Mexico and the American Southwest?
Agave
Which agave plant is the only one allowed in the production of tequila?
Agave tequilana
(blue agave)
What is pulque?
An un-distilled alcoholic beverage that is milky white, a little foamy and viscous, usually around 4-5% abv
What was the first method of producing agave beverages?
Fermented from the sap using naturally occurring yeasts
What are the requirements for a spirit to be called tequila?
Must be made from blue agave and produced in Jalisco or specific cities in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas
What is mezcal?
A Mexican spirit that can be made from any agave species, including blue agave
In which Mexican state is most mezcal produced?
Oaxaca
What is ‘mixto’ tequila?
Tequila that can be made from as little as 51% agave and as much as 49% sugars from other sources
How many species are there in the Agave genus?
Over 250 species.
What are the long, fleshy leaves of the blue agave called?
Pencas.
How long can the leaves of blue agave grow?
Up to two m or more.
How long does it typically take for blue agave to mature?
More than six years.
What is the maximum age at which some agave species reach maturity?
Close to 30 years old.
What do commercial agave farmers do with the shoots formed at the base of young plants?
Remove them and replant as clones.
What is a concern regarding the use of clones in agave farming?
Reduces genetic diversity, increasing risk of infection.
What grows from the central body of the mature agave plant?
A long, vertical stalk called a quiote.
How high can a quiote grow?
Up to 15 m.
What is harvested for spirits production from the agave plant?
The piña.
What compound accumulates most of the sugars in the agave plant?
Inulin.
What is inulin and is it fermentable?
Inulin is a polysaccharide of fructose and is also known as fructan. Inulin is not fermentable so it must be processed to break it down into fructose.
What is the sugar level in mature agave plants typically around?
24 ˚Brix.
How many kg of agave piña are needed to make one litre of 40% abv tequila?
Approximately six to eight kg.
What was the average harvest age for blue agave historically?
Eight to ten years.
What is the weight range of agave piñas?
Between 20 and 90 kg.
