What Is Tequila? 100% Agave vs Mixto Explained
What Is Tequila?
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue Weber agave plant, grown in a legally protected region of Mexico centered on Jalisco. The rules come from the CRT, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila, and they're enforced.
There are two kinds on the shelf. 100% agave means every fermentable sugar came from the agave. Mixto means at least 51% came from agave and the rest can be other sugars. Most cheap tequila is mixto. Most good tequila is 100% agave.
The Production Steps
The agave hearts, called piñas, are roasted, traditionally in brick ovens.
They're crushed, traditionally with a stone wheel called a tahona.
The juice ferments with wild or cultured yeast.
It's distilled twice, usually in copper pot stills.
Blanco is bottled young. Reposado rests in oak. Añejo spends a year or more in barrel.
Additives
Mexican law allows limited additives like caramel color, glycerin, and oak extract. They're not always disclosed on the front label. That's why independent verification matters, and why I only buy bottles I can confirm are clean.
Bottom Line
Look for 100% agave on the label. Check the NOM number to see which distillery made it. If a bottle is cheap and tastes like candy, it's probably mixto with additives.