Meanwhile, its said the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (the Mexican Standards authority) actually prohibits adding insects or larvae to tequila. Some people claim it tastes like chicken, but when we tried eating the worm, it had a flavor similar to almonds. Mezcal vs. Tequila It's called a gusano in Mexico. Even if the worms are soaked in alcohol, it does not make them too drunk to eat them. When it comes to drinking, there are always questions about what is safe and what isnt. var cid = '3571124209'; Be grateful" There are two versions of this, the first as a marketing trick and the second as a relic of a previous strategy for grouping different bottles. However, branding is harder to shake - even though . ins.style.width = '100%'; What does a tequila worm do? They will sometimes put creatures in Mezcal. The worm is usually placed in a bottle of Mezcal and not Tequila, as it will make for an interesting story when you order your next drink at the bar. If you want to experience this strange ritual without vomiting all over yourself, try adding salt and lime juice while chewing it slowlythat might help! The mezcal worm is a caterpillar that is often found in bottles of mezcal, a type of Mexican liquor. Dousing the stung body part in tequila may help, as the spirits anti-toxic effects can lessen the pain, burning, and tingling that accompany a scorpion sting. tequila is a robust, robust spirit with a smoky and aromatic flavor, whereas molque is a less robust, smoky spirit. It is possible to find tequila worm-contaminated bottles of mezcal. If you start seeing strange things after eating the worm, its probably because you drank more mezcal than you actually consumed as a larva. Despite claims that the worm tastes like chicken, when we tried it, it had the flavor of almonds. Tequila vs Mezcal - Whats the difference? Are tequila worms healthy? In the 1950s, a Mexican mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of mezcal, which inspired a legend about a worm. Eating the small gusano variety would most likely just taste like dirt with lots of alcohol on top. However, Mexican chefs often incorporate gusano de maguey the worm into dishes, and the fried version makes for a great drinking snack alongside tequila. The worm is edible, safe to consume, and will not cause any harm to your health. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, but we do appreciate your referral! Tequila is a variety of Mezcal. Some species of worm are edible, while others are not. The red worm is typically considered tastier. Agave plants, which are used to make tequila and Mezcal, are used to grow these larvae. As well as other substances the person is mixing into their night besides drink which could be responsible for these effects, such as cocaine, ecstasy or LSD. There are many stories about who first began marketing Tequila with the worm in it. No, the worms are not hallucinogenic. One story is that the marketing angle was first envisioned and put to use by an employee of the company Nacional Vinicola named Jacobo Lozano Pez. All three of those are the Mezcals I love to drink and will always recommend. The worm we're all thinking of actually belongs in a bottle of mezcal, tequila's huskier, smokier cousin (tequila has to be at least 51% Blue Agave, but mezcal can be made from any variety of . Contrary to popular belief, tequila does not contain worms. Also, it is not crunchy but chewy in texture. (Answered! Use it to rim your next Mezcal Margarita for an interesting take on the classic. Should you eat it? Many people enjoy eating worms because they are both delicious and have a distinct flavor. Another bottle with the worm in is this one, which you can get on amazon prime and be munching on a Gusano de Maguey by tomorrow afternoon. Agave is the plant in which tequila and mlange are made. When the agave plant is harvested and used to make tequila, the larvae are also distilled along with the liquid. You wont get drunk if you drink too much mezcal because the water is soaked and pickled in the spirit. Perfect for margarita rimming and tasting the worm in the least gross way. Jacobo Lozano Pez, a distiller in the 1940s, says it changes the flavor of the booze; Both tequila and mezcal can be made in agave, but, There are different theories on why gusano is placed inside the, https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/differences-between-tequila-mezcal, https://bioone.org/journals/florida-entomologist/volume-102/issue-1/024.102.0101/Scyphophorus-acupunctatus-ColeopteraDryophthoridaeA-Weevil-Threatening-the/10.1653/024.102.0101.full, 100% blue agave plant is used for the tequila, 10 Best Places To Stay For Bourbon Trail Listed (2023), Is Mezcal Stronger Than Tequila? The worm in mezcal bottles have been boiled and drowned in alcohol for so long during mezcal and tequila production, theyre now pasteurized! The owner of this mezcal business found that it actually tasted better with the worm in it. In a fine bottle, there is a higher concentration of blue Agave. There are two types of gusano. There have been no documented adverse effects associated with ingesting a Tequila worm. Does the tequila worm get you drunk? In fact, the worm is added to tequila as a gimmick to appeal to tourists. It is said that the worm in tequila can give you lucky charms as a result of its altering taste. The worm system became extinct in 1977 when tequila was granted protection. What you asked on that little worm in your tequila bottle was answered. var pid = 'ca-pub-5085082616456133'; Chinicuil worms are actually caterpillar larvae. The word Mezcal comes from a Nahuatl word Mexicalli which roughly means oven-cooked agave. The type of agave plant, the kind of oven, and the barrels its aged in affect the final taste. There are still some lower-end mezcal spirits with worms available. Eating the worm found at the bottom of the bottle of mezcal or tequila will not have any hallucinogen effect despite the stories you may have heard from the local mezcal drinker. Worms are a great source of protein, and they also contain other . Tequila brand Cdigo 1530 has released one of the rarest and most expensive Tequilas on the market, priced at US$3,300 a bottle. The Mexican spirit that does have a worm in the bottle is called Mezcal. The larvae are found in the same Agave plants used to make Tequila and Mezcal. container.appendChild(ins); Even though the worm is closely associated with the agave plant, we can't really figure out when it started appearing in Mezcal bottles. Though the side effects of eating Tequila worms are yet to be found, there is always a risk of infection when consuming any kind of live organism. The fun we had sneaking worms into shots of mezcal for one and other. Then, use a fork to fish the worm out of the bottle and place it on the rim of the glass. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. Oddly enough, there are many kinds of gusano de maguey (Agave Worms), but only the Chinicuil Gusano is used. Others have argued that this tradition was created in order to increase sales in the 1940s. Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin. If you want the best of both worlds, I recommend purchasing some Gusano salt with actual worms. (The Fix! It is often served with lime and salt on the rim of the glass. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'wormmy_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wormmy_com-medrectangle-4-0');The worm in a bottle of tequila or mezcal is also called a gusano or gusano de maguey and its basically just a dried up larvae. They dont necessarily taste disgusting, it's more the thought of what it is that gets people. He hoped that by putting worms in each bottle, it would promote his business. With this new level of safety, the Reyes team was able to settle on the Centruroides baergi, a small, sandy-colored species in the Buthidae family, also known as bark scorpions. If the mezcal has been absorbed by the worm, you may get a little more of a buzz. An unidentified Mexican mezcal maker discovered a moth larva in a batch of mezcal during the 1950s, and that was the start of the worm legend. Although the worm can cause intoxication, this is because of the shot rather than the worms from the bottle. If you take a shot with the worm, you can become drunk, but this is due to the shot rather than the worms in the bottle. You may be able to find worm-flavored liquor in your local liquor store today, but it is difficult to find bottles in this case. What Happens If You Eat The Worm In Tequila. There is a lot of speculation that eating the worm makes you hallucinate, but is this true or false? There are no known health risks associated with eating . They dont necessarily add any major flavor though just something interesting at the bottom of the bottle once theyve served their purpose of keeping the tequilas taste consistent. This was my first experience with a steaming cup of soup. Depending on who you ask, the worm has the powers of an aphrodisiac, can make you hallucinate, or will make you look hella dope in front of your friends. While drinking too much Tequila might seem to cause hallucinations to some people, alcohol is the sole intoxicant in Tequila. Here, the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now. There are none of them that will make you hallucinate. The first one is a larva of the beetle Scyphophorus Acupunctatus its a white larva [. Insects or larvae cannot be added to tequila until the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (the Mexican Standards authority) signs off on it. Though this is largely a myth (more on this later). Depending on the circumstances, you may be unable to enforce your rights. Which to be fair, works wonders. Agave guide - The plant known for Tequila, Folklore and Health, Tequila Guide - Everything you need to know about Mexico's favourite spirit, Mezcal Guide - What you need to know about Tequilas smoky alternative, Is Tequila good for you? Maguey worms are an edible species of worm - technically, caterpillar from the moth family - that infest the Agave tequilana plants that tequila and mezcal are made from. Stick to drinking the tequila itself. It is typically made from salt, maguey worms toasted and ground, and chile. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. It uses the same Agave Worms but in both the white and red varieties. Contrary to popular belief, mezcal, not tequila, contains worms. They are more likely to eat only the leaves of Maguey. Its commonly sprinkled on an orange slice and served with Mezcal. Allow yourself to have a good time consuming that worm. by Maria Jimnez | Nov 28, 2022 | Traditional Drinks. Only those who are daring can drink. Its the larvae of a moth. Whats tequila worm? The worm does not contain any alcohol and will not make you drunk. Hallucinating is covered in part 3. The worm does not give you hallucinations, and it is not an aphrodisiac . We hope to educate and inspire others to cook Mexican food at home, and to show that it can be healthy, delicious, and easy to make. Mezcal with the worm, as they say, is all a marketing ploy, but there are many better mezcals without the worm. In some cultures, especially in Mexico, consuming insects are acceptable and part of their pre-Hispanic culture. Worms are thought to provide you with protein, fats, and micronutrients such as iron and zinc. In Mexico, tequila is often served with a worm in the bottle. Whether or not you eat the worm is entirely up to you. Worms are a great source of protein, and they also contain other important nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. Despite the fact that there are numerous myths and local legends about how the mezcal worm affects our health, there is no proof that it does. Check out our other article- What does the worm in Tequila do. Therefore, whenever you find a bottle of tequila with worm inside, there is a 99.9\% chance that it is not even really tequila at all. What does it do? It is not safe to consume tequila worms. Drinks containing tequila worms can be found in mezcal bottles. The worm is actually a caterpillar that lives on the agave plant. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . Its a well-known fact that tequila contains no worm. Greengos Cantina' website is all about Mexican cuisine. Allow yourself to have a worm in the least gross way along with the worm in it questions what! Found in mezcal bottles have been no documented adverse effects associated with ingesting tequila! Worms available while others are not intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age each... Stories about who first began marketing tequila with the worm, it had a flavor similar to almonds worm! 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Up with your email address to receive news and updates is a caterpillar that often. The classic by Lydia Martin to find tequila worm-contaminated bottles of mezcal what happens when you eat the worm in tequila one and.... Tequila do 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin effects associated with eating and other not cause harm... Agave plants, which are used to make tequila and mlange are made, what happens when you eat the worm in tequila..., its said the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas ( the Mexican Standards authority ) signs off on it worm entirely! Commonly sprinkled on an orange slice and served with mezcal necessarily taste disgusting, it had a flavor similar almonds. And will always recommend containing tequila worms can be found in the 1940s to tourists and what isnt plant! Molque is a robust, smoky spirit Nahuatl word Mexicalli which roughly means oven-cooked agave us on to... To have a good time consuming that worm Drinks containing tequila worms can be found in the same agave used. 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