Tequila: Raw Material, Classification, Process, and Quality Parameters

Tequila is a Mexican drink obtained from the distillation of fermented agave juice. There are two categories of tequila: tequila 100% (derived uniquely from the fermentable sugars from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul juice) and tequila (49% of the fermentable sugars can come from sources other than agave). Depending on the aging process, tequila is further subdivided as white, young, reposado , anejo , and extra anejo . The tequila process consists mainly of 6–7 stages: agave harvest, cooking, juicing, fermentation, distillation, and in-bottle aging. More than 300 volatile compounds are associated with the aroma.