The fame of tequila transcends borders and positions it as a drink with great global recognition. It has a designation of origin and is considered symbol of Mexicanness.
The Consumer Attorney General’s Office (Profeco) analyzed 52 tequila brands, among which it detected that four brands do not comply with parameters such as content, consumer information and/or seals.
What is tequila?
Tequila is a regional alcoholic beverage that is obtained from the agave of the tequilana weber species, blue variety and that is prepared in the factory of an Authorized Producer, which must be located in the territory included in the declaration of the Denomination of Origin of the Tequila. It can have color, when it is matured, crushed or added a specific color.
The tequila producing states are:
- Jalisco
- Guanajuato
- Michoacan
- Nayarit
- Tamaulipas
Designation of origin
Mexico has a wide variety of products with designation of origin, of which six are distilled alcoholic beverages.
The most famous is tequila. A designation of origin It is when the name of a geographical region of the country serves to designate a product originating from it and whose quality or characteristics are due exclusively to the geography and the production of products using traditional methods linked to the customs of delimited geographical areas.
The first Mexican designation of origin was granted in 1974, when the distillate obtained from blue agave was called tequila.
Types of tequila
White or silver
- Transparent product not necessarily colorless.
- Without abocante.
- Obtained from distillation by adding only dilution water.
- It can mature for less than 2 months in oak or oak containers.
Young or gold
- Product resulting from the mixture of white tequila with reposado and/or aged and/or extra aged tequilas.
- This is also the name given to the product resulting from the mixture of white tequila with some of the ingredients: caramel color, natural oak or oak extract, glycerin, sugar-based syrup, which is known as abocamiento.
Restful
- Product capable of being targeted.
- Maturation process of at least 2 months in direct contact with the wood of oak or oak containers.
- Its commercial alcoholic content must, where appropriate, be adjusted with dilution water.
- The result of mixing reposado tequila with aged or extra aged tequilas is considered reposado tequila.
Old
- Product capable of being targeted.
- Maturation process of at least one year in direct contact with the wood of oak or oak containers, whose maximum capacity is 600 liters.
- Its commercial alcoholic content must, where appropriate, be adjusted with dilution water.
- The result of mixing aged tequila with extra aged tequila is considered aged tequila.
Extra aged
- Product capable of being targeted.
- Maturation process of at least 3 years, in direct contact with the wood of oak or oak containers, whose maximum capacity is 600 liters.
- Its commercial alcoholic content must, where appropriate, be adjusted with dilution water.
Remember that: He Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) It is the Conformity Evaluating Body in charge of verifying compliance with NOM-006-SCFI-2012. “Alcoholic beverages-Tequila-Specifications” in terms of the provisions of the Quality Infrastructure Law.
Brands with tequila that lie according to Profeco
After analyzing 52 brands, the Profeco detected four that They were not truthful in its net content, with consumer information and/or with seals.
Barman: This brand declares 950 ml, when in reality it contains 930.2 ml. In addition, it does not comply with consumer information, states 35% of Alc. Vol. when in reality it contains 35.29%. It has a price of 298 pesos.
Don Roberto former tequila maker: This brand declares 1.5 l, but in reality it contains 1,472 l. It also does not offer more information to the consumer and declares that it contains 35% Alc. Vol. when it contains 35.23%. It has a price of 299 pesos.
The Arangos: This brand declares 750 ml and actually contains 650.2 ml. It also does not comply with consumer information and declares to have 35% Alc. Vol. when in reality it contains 34.78%. It has a price of 455 pesos.
Tezon: This brand claims to have 750 ml, but in reality it contains 729.9 ml. It also fails to provide consumer information, stating that it has 38% of Alc. vol. when in reality it contains 38.5%. It does not display the prohibition of consumption symbols. It has a price of 695 pesos.
Buy good tequila
1) Check the labels to verify that the drink you buy is tequila. Remember that “tequila-type or agave distillate” drinks are not tequila.
2) Buy in the formal market.
3) Make sure that the cover does not show signs of tampering.
4) Check that the inside of the bottle does not have foreign particles floating.
5) Check the list of certified brands issued by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) on its site www.crt.org.mx.
6) Compare prices, flavors and qualities. Don’t pay more for the same product.
7) Calculate the price of the product per unit of measurement.
8) Doubt the quality of the product if it is far below the average market price.
9) Remember not to abuse its consumption, to have a good night and a better morning.