Tequila is more than just a spirit to the people of Mexico. To those who live in the region where it is produced, it is a lifestyle and a highly important cultural component. More than 70,000 families live in this area and are dependent on the tequila industry. A Casa Tequilera is a location where tequila is made, but there is much more to the culture and history than just that. Take a look inside at the importance of this industry and everything it represents.
Tequila has been produced since as early as the 1600s in Mexico, though its actual origins date back much earlier. It is made from the blue agave plant called the agave tequilana weber. This agave plant has long, spiked leaves on it. Within the interior of these leaves is the piña, a bulb. This is then baked and juiced following a specific process that has long been used. Only then can the juice be fermented in large barrels. This is what creates tequila.
What Is It?
Casa Tequilera is the Spanish word for the location where tequila is made, with “casa” meaning home. This term is more than just a physical location, though. It is a representation of the production process and all of the activities that take place within it. It is the house where the maestro tequilero works his magic.
Where Are They Located?
The Casa Tequilera isn’t necessarily next door to the agave fields. Rather, most agave fields in the area are commercialized. The tequila makers must first purchase the agave from the trusted, reliable suppliers they have often worked with for decades. This also allows for the tequila makers to wait for the best time for their own agave to mature. The commercialized suppliers help to ensure there is enough agave available to meet increasing demand. Since it takes as long as 10 years for the plant to reach its peak ripeness, this is a critical step.
It is also important to note that there are limitations on where they can be. Under Mexican law, a Casa Tequilera may only be located within the authorized municipalities in five Mexican states. These must correspond with the Appellation of Origin.
In 1974, the Mexican government took action to limit the production of tequila anywhere else in the world. It claimed intellectual property of the product, which means it can only be manufactured in the following five states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. More so, there are very specific regulatory guidelines that must be followed within that production process to ensure that tequila is produced properly. For example, the agave content, ingredients, and the length of the aging process must meet the standards set by the regulatory council. This helps ensure the finest quality.
What Are They Like?
Casa Tequilera is a modern facility capable of producing a significant amount of product at a time. The process typically begins by breaking down the leaves of the plant and then baking them in large ovens. Many Mexicans believe that these ovens themselves are somewhat magical and that they are the most important component of the process of creating tequila. A small mistake here could ruin the entire harvest.
After the proper baking occurs, which is typically done by water steam pressure in masonry ovens or autoclaves, the agave is then transported to the mills, where it is cut into small pieces. The extraction of the sugars and pulp occurs next, and then it is held in large tanks before being transported to an area that will fill the barrels to allow for the agave to become tequila.
What Processes Are They Responsible For?
The tequila house is where the agave piña is received. It is then cooked in the ovens until just the right point. After that, they are then put through a milling process that extracts all of the juice from the agave. The fermentation of the sugars occurs as the next step before the distillation process.
The Casa Tequilera is also where the maestro tequilero, or master tequileros will work their magic. They perform the art of balancing the alcohol components to create the ideal finished result, which is a process passed down through generations. Our job is to perform the art of aging the tequila in barrels as well, a process that allows for the final, premium tequila to be developed.
Exploring Tequila and Its Heart
A Casa Tequilera is one component of the tequila industry, but it is the heart of the process where the maestro tequilero will work to create the premium Tequila and in the case of Casa Aceves, the ultra-premium tequila that the region has become so well known for around the world. Understanding a bit more about this process enables you to learn the cultural importance and the true passion that goes into the production of tequila.
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