Jalisco's Blue Agave


Mexico may be famous for tequila but it's the striking blue agave plant that really deserves all of the recognition. The state of Jalisco, in Western Mexico, is where tequila was first developed from the blue agave plant and it's the only place in Mexico where tequila can be produced. Traveling through the area, an intense blue cloud covers the places where blue agave plantations blanket the landscape.During pre-colonial times, the Aztecs discovered that the plant harbors honey when lighting struck and burnt the plants. They also discovered a thick,white foam that would eventually be distilled to create tequila. Agave nectar has recently become a popular sweetener but tequila has claimed fans for several centuries. Jalisco produces more than 80% of all blue agave and I loved gazing at the elegant plants although the prickly points helped me realize that they are much better to look at than touch!


Comments

Catherine said…
Yes they certainly are a stunning and haunting sight purely evocative of Mexico....thanks for bringing my mexican memories back to the fore.....and enjoy the rest of your trip....greetings from Nice
Fly Girl said…
Catherine, I'll be bringing more memories of Mexico, stay tuned!
SandyCarlson said…
Beautiful--and so warm!
Fly Girl said…
Sandy, they're definitely beautiful but the high altitudes where blue agave grow best can actually be cool.
Anonymous said…
Nice color on the plants!
Fly Girl said…
Ibrah, the color is really striking! Thanks for visiting!
TexWisGirl said…
laughing at the 'look but don't touch' advice. and i like a good margarita. :)
Fly Girl said…
Tex,
You've never really tasted how good a margarita can be until you've tried it with blue agave tequila. Who knew?
Jess said…
You know, I've eaten - and drunk - a lot of agave, but I don't think I've ever actually seen what it looks like. I definitely haven't seen it as a garden! It's pretty!
Fly Girl said…
Jess, it needs a certain temperature to grow and I don't know if it grows outside of Mexico.
Interesting to see this plant. There's plenty of tequila on the supermarket shelves here. I do get put off by the ones with the genuine worm in them, though, I must say...
Fly Girl said…
Andrew, those worms are very off-putting indeed!
Beautiful photos. We had (still have, I think) and amusement park called Jalisco Park, after the Mexican state. :-)

Greetings from London.
Fly Girl said…
Cubano, That's good that Cuba has a park in honor of a Mexican state. Latin solidarity is good thing.
They are very striking plants, aren't they? :)
Fly Girl said…
Rachel, they're tasty too!

Popular posts from this blog

Traveling Through A Liberian Childhood

Puerto Rico's Taino Culture

Switzerland's Fete Des Vignerons