Mezcal:
- Dietitian.Lauren Hmede
- May 11, 2019
- 2 min read
What Is Mezcal, and How Is It Different from Tequila?
Often described as tequila’s smoky-tasting cousin, mezcal is a unique type of alcoholic beverage that’s making waves in the global liquor industry.
Originally from Mexico, mezcal has recently experienced a huge surge in popularity, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
What is mezcal?
Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverages made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or piñas, of agave plants.
Mezcal can be made from over 30 different types of agave, but the vast majority is made from a variety known as Agave espadin. This particular kind of agave is primarily grown in Oaxaca, Mexico, a region known as the home of mescal.
Mezcal and tequila are not the same
Mezcal and tequila are often confused for one another, as they’re both Mexican spirits made from similar ingredients. Tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not always tequila.
Although both spirits are made from agave, they differ in flavor, production methods, and origination.
Come from different regions
The vast majority of mezcal comes from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, but it can be produced in any of the following regions:
· Oaxaca
· Durango
· Guanajuato
· San Luis Potosi
· Tamaulipas
· Michoacan
· Puebla
· Zacatecas
· Guerrero
On the other hand, tequila has more limitations regarding where it may be produced. According to Mexican law, tequila can only be produced in these five regions of Mexico:
· Jalisco
· Nayarit
· Guanajuato
· Tamaulipas
· Michoacan
Variations in climate can affect the flavor and quality of the final beverage. Thus, the products are unique, depending on where they’re from.
Made through different processes
Mezcal and tequila are made via distinct production methods.
Both spirits utilize a basic method of cooking, fermenting, and distilling agave hearts, but the similarities end there.
Tequila can only be made from blue agave plants. Mezcal can be made from any number of agave species, including the blue variety.
When making tequila, the hearts of blue agave are typically cooked in industrial, above-ground ovens or autoclaves before being fermented and distilled.
For mezcal, the traditional cooking process occurs in large underground pits lined with volcanic rock. This underground “oven” is fueled with burning wood and covered with dirt, allowing the agave hearts to smoke and bake until they’re ready for fermentation.
They have different flavors
Whether you consider yourself a connoisseur of Mexican spirits or just enjoy an occasional cocktail, you’ll likely agree that the most obvious difference between tequila and mezcal is the flavor.
Some flavor differences can be attributed to where each spirit is made and the climate in which the agave was grown. Their unique production processes and whether or not the liquor was aged also greatly influence the taste.
On the most basic level, tequila tends to have a smooth, sweet flavor, whereas mezcal is often described as savory and smoky. The smoky quality is usually attributed to the underground ovens used to cook the agave.
There are several differences between mezcal and tequila, including taste and how and where they’re produced.
How do you drink mezcal?
Traditionally, mezcal is consumed straight with chili salt and an orange slice. Modern craft cocktail culture utilizes this drink in a variety of classic and new recipes.
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