Tequila is a liquor elaborated in a small region of Mexico through distillation of the fermented must which is obtained from the heart of a plant known as the “Blue Agave”. This heart of the plant, which resembles a giant pineapple, is also called “Mezcal”, which in the Nahuatl language means “the moon’s house”, meaning the heart, the essence, the center, etc. It’s about a product of two worlds merging, since a technique from the European continent is used to transform a very ancient and characteristic matter of the Mexican soil.

It must have been the middle of the XVI^th century when some exasperated Spaniard began to produce mezcal on lands pertaining to Tequila, given the abundance of blue agaves in the region and the enormous value he had for his daily life, since the leaves of the plant were used to build roofs, manufacture needles, awls, pins, and nails, make good ropes, make paper and a certain type of containers. In addition to using the agave leaves as fuel, the ashes were use as soap, bleach, and detergent; and the aloe was used for the treatment of wounds. In reality what was used the least was the mezcal itself. It turns out that probably once it was discovered; the ancients used it for delight and that when they realized it had very high sugar content, the thirstier Spaniards devised its distillation. But that discovery was not exactly applauded by authorities.

The colonial government from the start prohibited the elaboration of American products that could compete with liquors and wines from Spain. This was more due to orders to favor the imports from Spain than because of a denounced vocation for abstinence. For this reason, from the beginning tequila had to be made clandestinely, until given the volume its production reached and the government’s need for money, in the middle of the XVII^th century the government decided to authorize it and charge the corresponding tax.

As a result of this, the state could defray the costs for the first important construction work to transport filtered water to Guadalajara City, and years later, sponsor the construction of the Government Palace where even today, governors of Jalisco serve office.

As a matter of fact, since tequila was elaborated en route to San Blas, this port gained certain prominence in the middle of the XVIII^th century. The supplies for the new Spanish colonies in the northeast of Mexico were distributed through this port. The “mezcal wine from this land” became the first manufactured product to be exported from what today is Jalisco state.

The mezcal of tequila helped the Spaniards bear the loneliness of those northern lands as it later helped the Jesuits and Franciscans; and it helped the Indians they colonized for catechization purposes, to feel better once in a while, to endure with resignation and patience being subdued to a regime of life so different to the one they were used to, while they passed on to eternal life.

Tequila also provided the supply to quench the thirst of those who worked the not very distant, but elevated mines of Bolaños which were very prosperous on the XVIII^th century.

As a result of the consummation of the Independence in 1821, the Spanish liquors had greater difficulty to get to Mexico, which provided the opportunity for tequila makers to increase their sales in Guadalajara and to start marketing in Mexico City and throughout the country.

As a matter of fact, close to the first half of the XIX^th century, some mills had gained a certain prominence and the producers had already begun to exercise visible political influence.

It was then that once again, due to easier access to the port of San Blass, the increase in sales of tequila was possible again; this time with shipments for diggers and exploiters of gold, which since 1849 began to be discovered in Alta California. This was despite the fact that only a year earlier, the North Americans had taken those lands by force from Mexico.

Nevertheless, at the end of the XIX^th century and the beginning of the XX^th century, the North American railroad was tequila’s main enemy, since it transported with ease the European liquors from coast to coast, that was in addition to the preference Mexico’s high class gave to everything from France.

Drinking tequila instead of other imported liquors was one of such deeds, but it went further, since the government itself consciously favored an image of tequila almost as a symbol of the national state itself.

Also it contributed exceedingly to this end the Mexican industry cinematographic, successful in the thirties and forties, creating a false stereotype of to make and to belong to the Mexicans.

The movie industry, like many songs that were popular back then, had a lot to do with the growing fame of the beverage. The word of mouth also turned the tequila into the best medicine against an epidemic of Spanish influenza, which hit the north of Mexico around 1930. Other factor in favor was the availability of small bottles from the industrial city of Monterrey, which were used to supply the demand instead of using barrels, which were not of convenient size.

In the same way, the petroleum boom that surged during that time in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico also contributed to the consumption of tequila; this was due to the half liter cylindrical containers, which were easy to handle and transport – even in the back pockets of baggy pants which were in fashion back then – and which were very common in movie screens.

In 1940, the tequila industry was ready to substitute whisky, which would stop coming to the United States due to World War II; thus the exportation of tequila reached unsuspected levels.

In 1950 the production of tequila enjoyed significant technical improvements. Many factories - without detriment to quality - reached high indexes of performance and hygiene. In addition, due to their smaller levels of alcohol, some brands became more accessible for average drinkers.

On the other hand, it was also discovered that the region suitable to cultivate blue agave could be larger, without detriment to the product. Therefore, the market later obtained was tended properly.

However, it’s unfortunate that in several countries tequila is falsified and their governments don’t seem to show concern. This despite that in the spirit of agreement and international agreements – the Treaty of Lisbon being the most prominent - our beverage can only be legitimately elaborated in a certain region of Mexico.