Blue Agave, Tequila

agavetequila001

Agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. Blue agave matures in 8-12 years, then harvested, spiny leaves cut, resulting large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for agave juice that's fermented, distilled, aged to make tequilla.

Agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico.  Blue agave matures in 8-12 years, then harvested, spiny leaves cut, resulting large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for agave juice that's fermented, distilled, aged to make tequilla.

agavetequila002

Young blue Agave tequilena (maguey) in fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. Spiny leaves are sheared and resulting hearts are steamed and pressed for the juice that's fermented, distilled, and aged to make tequilla.

Young blue Agave tequilena (maguey) in fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico.  Spiny leaves are sheared and resulting hearts are steamed and pressed for the juice that's fermented, distilled, and aged to make tequilla.

agavetequila005

Closeup of mature blue agave tequilena cactus, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The 8-12 year old plant's ready for harvest, then the spiny leaves will be cut and the pineapple shaped heart will be steamed and crushed for juice that's distilled to make tequila.

Closeup of mature blue agave tequilena cactus, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The 8-12 year old plant's ready for harvest, then the spiny leaves will be cut and the pineapple shaped heart will be steamed and crushed for juice that's distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila006

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, then harvested, spiny leaves cut, the large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressedfor juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, then harvested, spiny leaves cut, the large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressedfor juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

agavetequila007

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, then harvested, spiny leaves cut, the large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressedfor juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

agavetequila008

Closeup of mature blue agave tequilena cactus, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The 8-12 year old plant's ready for harvest, then the spiny leaves will be cut and the pineapple shaped heart will be steamed and crushed for juice that's distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila009

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, is then harvested, spiny leaves cut, large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, is then harvested, spiny leaves cut, large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

agavetequila010

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, is then harvested, spiny leaves cut, large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

agavetequila011

Blue agave tequilena fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Central Valley of Mexico. Agave matures in 8-12 years, is then harvested, spiny leaves cut, large pineapple shaped heart's steamed and pressed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequilla.

agavetequila012

Stacked blue agave (maguey) pinas (pineapples) with spiny leaves trimmed ready for roasting to prepare them prior to pressing out the juice that's then fermented and distilled to make tequila, Tequila, Central Valley, Mexico.

Stacked blue agave (maguey) pinas (pineapples) with spiny leaves trimmed ready for roasting to prepare them prior to pressing out the juice that's then fermented and distilled to make tequila, Tequila, Central Valley, Mexico.

agavetequila013

Tequila workers pose with trimmed agave heart in mature blue agave tequilena cactus field, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. They dig up and trim 9 year old cactus into the pineapple shaped heart that's steamed and crushed for juice used to make tequila.

Tequila workers pose with trimmed agave heart in mature blue agave tequilena cactus field, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. They dig up and trim 9 year old cactus into the pineapple shaped heart that's steamed and crushed for juice used to make tequila.

agavetequila015

Tequila worker digs partially trimmed blue agave tequilena cactus heart from field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart's steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker digs partially trimmed blue agave tequilena cactus heart from field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart's steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila016

Tequila worker carries partially trimmed blue agave tequilena cactus heart out of a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart's steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker carries partially trimmed blue agave tequilena cactus heart out of a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart's steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila017

Tequila worker trims spiny leaves from a blue agave tequilena cactus in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart shown will be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker trims spiny leaves from a blue agave tequilena cactus in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart shown will be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila018

Tequila worker harvesting blue agave tequilena cactus in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. He will prepare a pineapple shaped heart to be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker harvesting blue agave tequilena cactus in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. He will prepare a pineapple shaped heart to be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila019

Tequila worker carries partially trimmed blue agave tequilena cactus heart out of a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart's steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila020

Tequila worker trims spiny leaves from a blue agave tequilena cactus in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart shown will be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila021

Tequila worker digs up a mature blue agave tequilena cactus from a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart of the maguey cactus will be trimed, steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker digs up a mature blue agave tequilena cactus from a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart of the maguey cactus will be trimed, steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila022

Tequila worker trims spiny leaves from a blue agave tequilena cactus heart in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart will be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

Tequila worker trims spiny leaves from a blue agave tequilena cactus heart in a field near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The pineapple shaped heart will be steamed and crushed for juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila.

agavetequila023

Stacked blue agave (maguey) pinas (pineapples) in a processing plant ready for roasting that prepares them before pressing out the juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila, Tequila, Central Valley, Mexico.

Stacked blue agave (maguey) pinas (pineapples) in a processing plant ready for roasting that prepares them before pressing out the juice that's fermented and distilled to make tequila, Tequila, Central Valley, Mexico.