Tequila History

Tequila is the national beverage of Mexico, and usually consumed for celebrations. The Toltex Indians discovered tequila as a drink more than 200 years ago. There are 4 types of bottled Tequila which range from being ages for 3 months to 5 years. Agave plants thrive in Tequila, Mexico where conditions such as altitude and climate are perfect for its growth. It takes the agave plant 8 to 10 years to mature and be ready for harvesting and distilling. To actually make the tequila, the green outer leaves are sliced off, leaving the large agave "pinas" or pineapples to be processed. The average worker can prepare only 200 plants a day because of the intense heat and the difficulty of the procedure. The white creamy core contains the juice necessary for the preparation of tequila. One plant can produce 5 bottles of tequila.

The town of Tequila, Mexico processes most of the tequila that is on the market today. Once in the city, visitors are allowed to tour the various distilleries; as well as taste the various tequilas being processed.

Location of Tequila, Mexico

Tequila is located between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. By car, it is around 1 hour from Guadalajara; if you're coming from Vallarta, expect about a 4 hour ride. There is a train that travels between Guadalajara and Tequila that includes a tour of the city of Tequila, live music, food and drinking. More information on the railway between the cities can be found under the links section.

Map of Jalisco

Photos of the town

On the way into the town of Tequila, you may see various billboards shaped as tequila bottles. Following are some photos of the boards on the way into town, as well as some photos of the actual city itself.

Once inside the city, here are some of the sights you might see...

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