A few people have claimed that the mezcal worm tastes similar to chicken. It is also claimed that the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (Mexican Standards authority), in addition to prohibiting insect or larvae consumption, also prohibits the use of leather. Worm salt is used in cooking and as a garnish. It is not uncommon for us to never have seen one other than in a movie. Credit: Twitter. Welcome to Wormmy! Drinks containing tequila worms can be found in mezcal bottles. ), Do Birds Eat Jumping Worms? Some people believe that eating the worm is a rite of passage, and others simply enjoy the taste. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, but we do appreciate your referral! In extreme cases, it can even lead to death. It has no aphrodisiac properties, and it does not induce hallucinations. They are indeed. Monte Alban is a classic, it use to and sometimes still does come with a small bottle of extra worms. But the truth of the matter is that the mezcal worms only started appearing in commercial bottles sometime around the 1940s or 50s. But there are many popular beliefs regarding its benefits and side effects. This marketing gimmick made people drink more mezcal, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. Whats the tradition behind eating the mezcal worm? 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. Onemartiniatatime.com is participating in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true }); The worm system was eradicated once tequila was granted protected status in 1977. There is no evidence that the worm contributes to the taste of mezcal. But another drink is made with tequila the worm cocktail. Some bottles of La Penca contain two worms inside. Some people who have eaten a mezcal worm say it tastes like chicken. Worms are a great source of protein, and they also contain other important nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. That is not the case, and there is no worm in tequila. The worm is actually a caterpillar that lives on the agave plant. 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 only a few venomous snakes, but if you sting one, your skin will puff up for a few days. What you asked on that little worm in your tequila bottle was answered. However, it can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. There are different theories on why gusano is placed inside the tequila bottle, but it is clear that alterations in the flavor and magical powers are just glorified name tags. Edible Insect Grading System EIGS Standards, Scorpions Glow & 12 Other Facts About These Amazing Arachnids. 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? Tequila has been commercialized and is now mass-produced in large diffusers rather than ovens. According to Culture Map, the bottle was created by Tequila Ley . And, that tradition is not a tradition at all. A quality Mezcal needs no gimmicks. First, lets get these myths out of the way. Agave worms are a traditional delicacy in Mexican cuisine that has been around for thousands of years. ), What Is a Group of Worms Called? ins.className = 'adsbygoogle ezasloaded'; As a result, tequila is a type of mezcal, whereas mezcal is not tequila, but only mezcal has worms. Agave plants, which are used to make tequila and Mezcal, are used to grow these larvae. 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. Although The Worm is commonly thought of as being in Tequila here in the states, in Mexico its traditionally found in Mezcal. I liked it. The answer is yes, you can eat the tequila worm, but it is not recommended. 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. When it comes to drinking, there are always questions about what is safe and what isnt. (& Survival Rate), Does Dog Heartworm Medicine Expire? [1. By submitting your question and/or a picture, you understand and agree that any picture and text you submit may be used by All About Worms without restriction. Theyre nutritious and considered a delicacy. Some think the worm in the bottle started as a marketing ploy, to get people to drink more mezcal in the 1940s and 1950s. There are nearly 200 different insects Mexicans consider food, and each one tastes different. Because the worms are free of pesticides and other chemicals, there is no medical proof that they cause hallucinations. Even though the worm is soaked in mezcal and pickled in it, no alcohol is present on it. Some may have seen it personally while others have heard, but there are mezcal bottles that contain tequila worms. It is an excellent mezcal with a maguey worm inside, in addition to being the best known mezcal with a maguey worm. This marketing stunt increased the popularity of mezcal, especially among the 1940s and 1950s generation. Answer (1 of 9): Generally there is no worm in tequila. Tequila is distilled from sugars of the agave plant. Nope. Should you eat it or not? Despite a prohibition by the Mexican Standards authority (which forbids the use of worm-infested bottles), the tequila market does not contain any worm today. Some people believe that eating the worm will make them feel more intoxicated. NOTE: We cannot identify parasites or diagnose symptoms. A collaboration between Monte Alban Mezcal and WormTa tequila. Many health benefits are thought to be found when you eat the worm in tequila. Those were the days. And was most likely just a way to make people buy more Mezcal. You have a choice of how you want to consume that worm. For this reason we have put together this resource here. Agave is the plant in which tequila and mlange are made. Sal de Gusano Marron can be made using any variety of the Maguey Worm. The worm itself is actually a moth larvae called a gusano de magueysince it feeds off of the maguey plant. The worm system was eliminated as a result of tequilas protected status in 1977. There is no way to get high from tequila. Yes, tequila worms inside the bottle of mezcal are edible. Technically, calling it a mezcal worm is more accurate. Sales of tequila skyrocketed in the 1950s as people began to believe it to be a hallucinogen. Despite the name of the worm, which is commonly found on the bottom of bottles of mezcal that have been distilled from blue Agave and similar plants, it can only be found on a variety of tequilas obtained from the plants. Feel free to gulp down that worm to your hearts content. Why are people afraid of worms? Jimadores plucked the bugs from dead or dying Agave plants and stored them in bottles of mezcal to drink. It is not possible to obtain a tequila worm; tequila is not made with worms, and even tequila itself contains no worm. The worm is actually the larva of a type of fly known as the agave snout weevil. Which means tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. Agave must account for at least 51% of the tequila, whereas mezcas must account for 100%. There are no known health risks associated with eating larvae, and it is safe to consume them. Once tequila was granted protected status in 1977 (on October 13, if you'd care to celebrate), the worm system was rendered unnecessary. As soon as you consume the worm, youll notice a lot of the same things as you would if you had consumed the larva, more likely because of the mezcal you consumed. The worm in tequila is not harmful and is actually . Does the maguey worm larvae outside of the tequila bottle have any health benefits? You wont find a worm at the bottom of a tequila bottle if you dont drink it. Why Are These Worms Used In Tequila. The distillation process gives it a different makeup of congeners than other alcohols, which really only affect the alcohols taste. Chapulines (spiced grasshoppers) are also popular as insect food. It is safe to eat the larvae because they are not harmful to health. Worms will have no effect unless you become drunk because they have absorbed alcohol. The one-of-a-kind 1.3 liter tequila bottle, dubbed The Diamond Sterling, is worth $3.5 million thats more than a million dollars per liter. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Soon, other mezcal manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon. What Can You Expect When You Eat The Worm? Whatever the reason, it is definitely an interesting addition to tequila. If you are unsure about the specific type of worm in your tequila, it is best to err on the side of caution and assume that it is not edible. A Mexican Mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of the beverage in the 1950s, and the worm has since spread to other parts of the world. Nowadays, many people love to pour worm salt (toasted and grounded worm with salt and chilis) or gusano with chili powder in orange, then consume it. Greengos Cantina' website is all about Mexican cuisine. All rights reserved. I was curious, but not as interested as I normally am. Now, the million-dollar question is can you eat the tequila worm? Its made from a specific type of Agave. Why are there creatures in space? LEARN MORE: What Agave Is Used For Tequila? Some people believe that eating the worm will make you drunker, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. It has notes of chocolate and vanilla, light spice, and sweetness with a minimal burn. Somewhat of a glorified name tag if you will. An internet commenter compared it to wet rotten leather that had been washed with an ashtrays juice. Finally, as long as were debunking myths, consider the following: Does eating worms cause hallucinations? Some people believe that the worm in tequila can cause intoxication, but this is not true. It is most likely the result of amisunderstanding about the term Mezcal, which some people believed came from the term Mescaline, which is a hallucinogenic alkaloid found in Peyote. For those of you who just cant get enough. Whether or not you eat the worm is entirely up to you. Which to be fair, works wonders. Although the warm elements are soaked and pickled in mezcal, there is not enough alcohol on the warm to induce intoxication. Even today, with mezcal making a strong, high quality comeback in the spirits world, bottles complete with a worm (and a tiny packet of worm-flavored salt) are still out there. In this case, the worms presence had an effect on the taste of the mezcal. The Mexican drinking worm is a popular Mexican liquor made from the agave plant. That check out the below Mezcals. But most people who eat the worm, pretty much drink it down in one go so they never get to feel the crunch of the mezcal worm. Tequila may be a comparatively healthier option than some other types of alcohol because it contains fewer calories, zero sugar, and zero carbohydrates. Eating maggots or maggot-infested food can cause bacterial poisoning. In the 1950s, the use of this marketing ploy was used by Mexican Mezcal producers to market their product in the United States. And with all the rumors and theories about a tequila worm, one thing is for sure: it started as a marketing ploy in the 1940s. Entomophagy. Agave must account for 51% of the juice in tequilas, whereas mezcas account for 100%. Etc. It's best to leave this dare to the professionals. 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. The worm in the bottom of a tequila bottle is an old-fashioned myth, created by a marketing strategist with some marketing savvy. As a result, they were confusing mezcal with mescaline, a potent psychoactive component of the peyote plant. In Mexico, tequila is often served with a worm in the bottle. If you do not have this, there are numerous other options that are both tasty and affordable. According to research, the main purpose of tequila worms was for a marketing strategy. Although "The Worm" is commonly thought of being in Tequila here in the states, it's traditionally found in Mezcal. For an extra $5, her tequila shot could include the Worm. AKA: El Maguey.. In fact, if it wasnt for drowning in booze then that little worm would turn into a beautiful butterfly (or moth rather), as its not a worm at all. Outside of the fact that its not really a worm what you might actually be eating is larva or grubs, but no, there is no risk to your health. Many people wonder what the purpose of the worm is in tequila bottles. This is the red worm. It is highly prized and a more expensive worm. That's another common misconception. In order to tell them apart they would pluck the dead worm from the agave plant and place it in the mezcal bottles. 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? Living on diets of mezcal and worms. Its a popular misconception, which is why its so widely held. ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive = 'true'; They are then boiled and put into the tequila bottle as a decoration. So, if youre looking for a way to get drunk, dont bother with the worm in tequila. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. Currently, the Mexican Standards Authority prohibits adding gusanos (worms) to commercial bottles According to spirits writer John McEvoy, mezcal is defined as any agave-based liquor. Not really while theyre safe to eat, and delicious in some dishes or fried with pork rinds, the larva doesnt have much nutritional value besides a bit of protein. Be grateful" They grow until they become too large and need to be removed before entering the next phase in production usually around two months! Smartblend does earn a small commission on goods purchased through the included links. Our mission is to help you love worms as much as we do! Can she get up the gumption to eat a worm? 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. Because the worms are free of pesticides and other chemicals, there is no evidence that they cause hallucinations. Red Wine Vinegar: A Versatile Ingredient For Your Kitchen, How To Clean A Red Wine Spill From A Quartz Countertop. Its best to leave this dare to the professionals. Why don't you eat the worm in tequila? Larvae began appearing in mezcal bottles in the 1950s, when a mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of his liquor and thought the stowaway improved its taste. Theres no known secret ingredient in tequila that makes you want to rage. 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