National Tequila Day 2023: 10 Interesting Facts About This Distilled Beverage That Will Blow Your Mind

National Tequila Day 2023: Tequila is one of the most common beverages consumed by people across the world. The special occasion of National Tequila Day is commemorated on July 24 every year to celebrate the rich legacy and artistry behind the making of this widely cherished beverage. Tequila lovers gather together on this day to celebrate the unique flavours of the drink. If you are a tequila aficionado, here are some amazing facts about this alcoholic drink that you must know.

Interesting Facts About Tequila

1. Like champagne, cognac, and some fine wines, tequila can only be produced in five regions in Mexico, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, and Jalisco, though the largest producer is Jalisco.

2. When making tequila, only the piñas of the agave plants are used. They are cut out and cooked, then ground down and fermented.

3. Agave tequilana weber, or blue agave plants, take between 8 and 12 years to harvest and can grow as much as 7 feet tall.

4. The type of soil agave is grown in has a large impact on the flavour of tequila.

5. During the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, patients were instructed to drink tequila with lime and salt to ease their symptoms. Today, tequila isn't considered a cure, but might still help soothe sore throats, ease congestion and aid with sleep.

6. The 24th of July is dedicated to drinking and enjoying tequila. While tequila is truly Mexican, this special day was not created by Mexicans but by Americans who love this drink as much as the Mexicans and the rest of the world do.

7. A team of Mexican scientists who experimented with various organic solutions discovered that the 80-proof tequila blanco (40% alcohol) has the best ratio of ethanol to water that can be used to manufacture synthetic diamonds. This is done by depositing the tequila on a silicon or stainless steel substrate.

8. The volume of tequila that Mexico exports to the rest of the world has been constantly increasing in recent years. In 2021 alone, the volume had reached close to 340 million litres.

9. Although, if you open the bottle, you have about 1-2 months to finish the bottle before oxidation and evaporation lowers the quality of tequila and destroys the agave profile. If you leave it in the bottle for 3-6 months, it will start tasting more like bourbon.

10. Real tequila is differentiated on the basis of age and the process of distillation. It is categorized into Blanco, Reposado and Anejo.