tequila

TEQUILA

BY SASHI RAJ141FA15030

TEQUILA

INTRODUCTION:-

• Tequila is a agave based spirit , made primarily in surroundings of western Mexican state

• Tequila is first produced in the 16th century near the location of the city of tequila

The volcanic soil region is particularly well suited to the growing of the tequila , and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year

Seven-step process

• 1. Harvest• 2. Cooking• 3. Shredding• 4. Fermenting• 5. Distillation• 6. Ageing• 7. Bottling

Harvest

• The agave is planted, and harvested by hand.

• The men who harvest agave plants are called “jimadores”.

• Agave plants are harvested 6-10 years after the plantation when they reached 60-65 kgs.

Cooking

• Once the plants have been harvested, they are usually cut into halves or even quarters, depending upon their size.

• These are carefully stuffed by hand into the ovens for cooking.

Shredding• Baked agave are crushed to extract the juices .

• Originally, the manufacturers beat the plant with large wooden mallets to break them up once they were soft and cool, then stomping on them like grapes to get the juices out .

• Modern distilleries use a mechanical crusher, or shredder .

Fermentation• During the fermentation process the sugars are transformed into alcohol.

• Yeast is added to accelerate and control the fermentation.

• Fermentation usually takes 7-12 days depending upon the method used.

Distillation

• Most claim to distill their ferment twice and some will claim triple distillation.

• The first distillation is always a rough , low grade distillate and the second or third run is used to purify it.

Ageing

• Oak barrels are preferred for the storage of tequila.

• The longer the tequila ages , the more colour and tannins the final product have.

Bottling• Bottling is done using automated filling machines, and may also include a

production line for washing bottles, placing cork, applying labels, and checking for clarity and quality control.

• In some cases, labels are even hand-painted.

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