Jalisco the blue agave plant. It is the most famous type of mezcal produced in Mexico, and the only mezcal which is produced industrially with strict standards. The tequila industry supports large scale cultivation of the blue agave, with about 200,000 people employed through it directly or indirectly. It is named after a small town northwest of the city of Guadalajara in the center of where it is produced and the native region of the blue agave. The plant was used in pre-Hispanic times to make a ceremonial drink. The Spanish used the sweet heart of the mature plant, called a
Agave any species known in the wild, although this may simply be due to the differences in growing conditions in Europe. Some commonly grown species include "Agave americana", "Agave angustifolia", "Agave tequilana", "Agave attenuata," "Agave parviflora", "Agave murpheyi", "Agave vilmoriniana", "Agave palmeri", "Agave parryi" and "Agave victoriae-reginae". One of the most familiar species is "Agave americana", a native of tropical America. Common names include century plant, "maguey" (in Mexico), or American aloe (not related to the genus "Aloe"). The name "century plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower. The number of years before flowering occurs depends on