Agave is a genus of large, succulent plants native to the arid Americas, primarily known for their dense rosettes of fleshy, sword-like leaves. They are commercially prized as the source of tequila and mezcal, as well as agave nectar and sisal fiber.
- Agave syrup is a popular natural sweetener with everyone from commercial food producers to moms looking for sugar alternatives.
- Before Spanish colonization, Indigenous peoples and the Aztecs utilized the agave for almost everything. They spun its tough leaves into cordage, used the sharp leaf spikes as sewing needles, and fermented the sap into traditional drinks like pulque.
- All tequila is technically mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. Tequila can only be made from the Agave tequilana (blue agave) and produced in designated regions, while other mezcals can be made from over 30 different species of agave.
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