There are three other theories why distilleries placed the insect inside the bottle of alcohol: There are no tequilas that have worms. But what does eating this really do? Lower-end mezcals may still be available with worms in their bottles. Living on diets of mezcal and worms. After infesting the agave plant, and then being filtered out from amber-colored agave juice, maguey worm larvae can continue to grow within an enclosed environment inside distilleries or warehouses. When you eat a mezcal worm, you will experience a placebo effect. That check out the below Mezcals. What Happens If You Have A Whole Bottle Of Tequila? I also wanted to educate and inspire others to cook Mexican food at home. This marketing gimmick made people drink more mezcal, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. What you asked on that little worm in your tequila bottle was answered. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); Eggs develop into immature worms, travel through the arteries, and are transported to muscles. Its a maguey worm larva, according to Anthony Dias Blues Complete Book of Spirits, which is one of the two types that live on the Agave plant. It is actually a caterpillar larvae, though it is not a native of that . Should you eat the worm at the bottom of the bottle? 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. A marketing ploy like this was responsible for the rise of mezcal consumption during the 1940s and 1950s. Finally, as long as were debunking myths, consider the following: Does eating worms cause hallucinations? No doubt, it was good marketing since we all know about the worm.. Here, the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now. Finally, take the shot and eat the worm in one bite. There is no worm in this bottle of tequila. Regional lore maintains that the dying serpent releases a cocktail of medicinal chemicals upon its expiration, supplementing the strength and charm of the liquor. As a result, tequila is a type of mezcal, whereas mezcal is not tequila, but only mezcal has worms. If you really want the best of both, Id recommend picking up some Gusano salt, which is salt made and flavoured in Oaxacan (the birthplace of Mezcal) and flavoured with actual Mezcal worms. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; The first one is a larva of the beetle Scyphophorus Acupunctatus its a white larva [. 23 Likes, 8 Comments - Nadine Odendaal (@nadineodendaal1) on Instagram: "Life is hard. What type of worm is in the bottom of the bottle? The marketing strategy involved placing a worm in each bottle. Etc. There are no known health risks associated with eating . There have been no documented adverse effects associated with ingesting a Tequila worm. It is said that the Chinicuil Gusano worm, which is used in the production of Mezcal, provides the drink with its distinct flavor. This is a question that has been asked by many people who enjoy drinking tequila. 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. When tequila was designated for protection in 1977, worms were no longer required to be used. The worm does not give you hallucinations, and it is not an aphrodisiac . There are many stories about who first began marketing Tequila with the worm in it. Contact at [emailprotected]or learn more about us here. Technically, no, there arent worms at the bottom of most tequila bottles. But there are many popular beliefs regarding its benefits and side effects. It uses the same Agave Worms but in both the white and red varieties. Insects are a good addition to our diets. So, when you eat the worm, you are partaking in tradition. They are pretty damn small and if you swallow it whole washing it down with mezcal then you shouldnt even feel it in your mouth. Worms are actually pretty tough little creatures although theyre edible, youll feel every bite and the thought of it will make some feel nauseous. Should you eat it or not? However, branding is harder to shake - even though . Can she get up the gumption to eat a worm? Tequila is a type of mezcal, much like how scotch and bourbon are types of whiskey. True imbibers of the alcohol can attest to the fact that worms are only found in tequila's lower-class sister, which is known as mescal . The real problem was that it was a worm. The reality of eating worms from tequila bottles is barely worth considering for these reasons: The only reason it is worth doing is for a bit of fun or to impress your friends with an act of machismo, or that special someone youve taken on a date though dont be surprised if it has the opposite effect in this scenario! However mezcal larva doesnt quite have the same ring to it. 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. According to research, the main purpose of tequila worms was for a marketing strategy. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'wormmy_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wormmy_com-banner-1-0');Many believe these hallucinations are more likely caused by the high alcohol percentage of tequila which can make us see colors differently than we would if we werent drinking. If absinthe interests you then check out part 1 of of that guide and part 2 first. So is the worm alive or not in mezcal? Another common misconception is that. 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. Although the shot can result in intoxication, this is due primarily to the shot rather than the worms in the bottle. Lets be clear: All tequilas are mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequilas [1], and only mezcals have worms. As it reaches the stomach, the worm will start to digest the tequila. The same is true of Tequila. I recall my days working in somewhat of a dive bar with a bottle of Monte Alban on the back bar, a brand of mezcal with the infamous worm floating at the bottom of the bottle and also happens to come with a small bottle filled with extra mezcal pickled worms. Which to be fair, works wonders. This is a common question but theres little scientific evidence backing up this possibility. Some of the companies that may be holding or processing your personal information include Facebook, Hotjar, Mouseflow, and Reisenegger Getrnke GmbH. Nope. Contrary to popular belief, mezcal, not tequila, contains worms. Now, the million-dollar question is can you eat the tequila worm? Most foods that have maggots aren't safe to eat, especially if the larvae have been in contact with feces. Then check out my guide on Tequila to really understand how they differ. Despite the fact that there are numerous myths and local legends about how the mezcal worm affects our health, there is no proof that it does. Dousing the stung body part in tequila may help, as the spirits anti-toxic effects can lessen the pain, burning, and tingling that accompany a scorpion sting. What Happens If You Eat The Worm In Tequila. A tequila worm does not appear to have any known side effects. You can eat as many tequila worms as you like, you will ever hallucinate. So, why is there a worm in mezcal? The worm is added to the bottle for both flavor and tradition. Theres no known secret ingredient in tequila that makes you want to rage. Does it still exist? That is correct! tequila is more robust than mezcal, a smokey, aromatic spirit. Tequila has been commercialized and is now mass-produced in large diffusers rather than ovens. The gusano de maguey, the larvae of the worm, is a moth. Agave is the plant in which tequila and mlange are made. Is the worm in tequila hallucinogenic? Agave worms in mezcal do not have the salty crunch of fried ones, but they can be eaten raw. Consequences Of Eating The Worm In Tequila. Theyre nutritious and considered a delicacy. If you take a shot with the worm, you can get intoxicated, but that is because of the shot and not the worms from the bottle. Another bottle with the worm in is this one, which you can get on amazon prime and be munching on a Gusano de Maguey by tomorrow afternoon. Tequila may be a comparatively healthier option than some other types of alcohol because it contains fewer calories, zero sugar, and zero carbohydrates. What Are The Health Benefits Of One Shot Of Tequila A Day. If you start seeing strange things after eating the worm, its probably because you drank more mezcal than you actually consumed as a larva. Mezcal bottles containing tequila worms are available for purchase. Both tequila and mezcal are made by distilling the agave plant, however while mezcal can be made from a blend of one of 250 types of the cactus-like succulents. That last one might be true, but eating the worm wont really accomplish anything other than making you a little drunker thanks to the alcohol it has absorbed. There are no proven side effects associated with consuming the larvae, so you can be confident in consuming them. The worm itself is actually a moth larvae called a gusano de magueysince it feeds off of the maguey plant. Yes, tequila worms inside the bottle of mezcal are edible. What Happens If You Eat The Worm In Mezcal? Her friends were sure she could. The mezcal worm is a caterpillar that is often found in bottles of mezcal, a type of Mexican liquor. Nothing on this website should be taken as professional advice and we always encourage responsible drinking. While some anecdotal reports exist, its not thought the worm is what actually gives you hallucinations. Meaning by the time you had the worm you were just about drunk enough to think you were hallucinating. The Mexican spirit that does have a worm in the bottle is called Mezcal. The worm is actually the larva of a type of fly known as the agave snout weevil. BTW Whats the Difference Between Tequila and Mezcal? One is the larva of the beetle Scyphophorus acupunctatus, which is what the red larva is and the other is larva . 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. The flavor of the spirit was enhanced by a larvae discovered in a batch of Mexican Mezcal in the 1950s, according to a manufacturer. Whether it is purely a marketing angle aimed at Americans or not, the last shot of mezcal with worms is safe to consume. ins.className = 'adsbygoogle ezasloaded'; In the Agave plant, there are larvae of a type of moth. The maguey worms came from the maguey plant, one of the agave plants used to make the spirit. Then you die. Some worms that people get can grow to be really big --more than 3 feet long. In this case, the worms presence had an effect on the taste of the mezcal. This worm, also known as a Gu Sonio de Maguey, is found in Africa. Some people believe that the worm in tequila can cause intoxication, but this is not true. Sal de Gusano is traditional and pre-dates tequila production. Even if the worms are soaked in alcohol, it is not enough to make you intoxicated. 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. Monte Alban is a classic, it use to and sometimes still does come with a small bottle of extra worms. Some species of worm are edible, while others are not. If you click Agree and continue, you will be asked to agree to these technologies. Sal de Gusano Rojo is the red Chinicuil worm and is highly prized and, therefore, more expensive. ins.style.width = '100%'; So, if youre looking for a way to get drunk, dont bother with the worm in tequila. 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. 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. Other stories claim that it was originally simply an accident, But when mezcal and tequila producers saw the reaction it created, they realized that it could be of value in marketing. It's more of a gimmick than a tradition. So tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila, and only mezcal has worms. Cookies are small files that we store and/or retrieve across our devices. If youve ever wondered what happens when you eat the worm in tequila, youre not alone. Contrary to popular belief, the worm does not cause you to hallucinate. The mezcal worm is moth larvae called gusano de maguey, and you can find them in the agave plant. As a result of the worms presence, the maker of this Mezcal believed that the taste had improved. Yes, it is totally fine to consume the tequila worm. That's another common misconception. The tequila worm is a small, white worm that is found in the bottom of some bottles of tequila. 2023 Caniry - All Rights Reserved The Blue Agave. The fun we had sneaking worms into shots of mezcal for one and other. Look at the bottom of a bottle of mezcal if youre looking for worms in tequila bottles. A quality Mezcal needs no gimmicks. However, if you find a bottle, they are typically made of lower-ended mezcal. Sales of tequila skyrocketed in the 1950s as people began to believe it to be a hallucinogen. The tequila worm is commonly referred to as the tequila worm, but it is only found on the bottom of bottles of mezcal, a type of tequila made from distilled blue Agave and other similar plants. (Chickens and Other Bird Species), How to Harvest Worm Castings (While Separating Worms and Cocoons), How Long Can a Dog Live with Heartworms Untreated? Following in the tradition of so many college kids before her, she took the shot and swallowed the worm in one gulp. Does it taste of anything? Im here to tell you that yes it does exist, and yes it is still a thing. Some people believe that eating the worm will make you drunker, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Chinicuil worms are more than gimmicks added to liquor. Worms are a great source of protein, and they also contain other . The worm found in tequila is the larva of a moth called Hypopta Agave. Nothing. (How Many Brains Does An Earthworm Have? Finally, as long as were busting myths, heres another one: Does eating the worm cause hallucinations? You may find that taking the shots you take to prepare yourself for eating it yields results. The resulting liquor is clear and has a slightly sweet taste. One thing they all have in common is that it was purely a marketing ploy. This bottle of tequila youve ever wondered what Happens if you click Agree and,! Are soaked in alcohol, it was a worm in one bite worm found in the agave plant, of! 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