Agave tequilana Agave tequilana Agave tequilana, commonly called blue agave () or tequila agave, is an agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient of tequila, a popular distilled beverage. The high production of sugars, mostly fructose, in the core of the plant is the main characteristic that makes it suitable for the preparation of alcoholic beverages. The tequila agave is native to the states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Aguascalientes in Mexico. The plant favors altitudes of more than and grows in rich and sandy soils. Blue agave plants grow
Tequila long maturation of the plant, will likely continue to affect prices for years to come. Only certain "mezcals", usually from the state of Oaxaca, are ever sold "con gusano" (with worm). They are added as a marketing gimmick and are not traditional. The tequila regulatory council does not allow "gusanos" or scorpions (which are sometimes also added to mezcals) to be included in tequila bottles. The worm is actually the larval form of the moth "Hypopta agavis", which lives on the agave plant. Finding one in the plant during processing indicates an infestation and, correspondingly, a lower-quality product. However, this