why is there a worm in some tequilla?

Answer 1

Worms are put into Mescal to show alcoholic strength. If it's bad mescal, it will be low in alacohol and the worm will rot away. If it's the good stuff, there will be enough alcohol to preserve the worm.

Point me!

Answer 2

One of the many myths surrounding tequila is that there's a worm in the bottle. It's actually mezcal which has the worm, or 'gusano'. Not all mezcals contain a worm; some have more than one, but many have a delightful looking maggot at the bottom of the bottle. The point of the worm is to improve the flavour of the mezcal.So that is a MYTH...

You probably think this is some ancient Mexican tradition, right? Not unless your idea of ancient is 1950. We even know who invented the practice. Various reasons are given for it, but I say it all boils down to: Let's see if we can get the gringos to eat worms...

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:mAEL4l_GFVoJ:www.straightdope.com/classics/a990702b.html+why+is+there+a+worm+in+the+bottle+of+tequilla&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5

Answer 3

The drink that has worms in and is often confused with tequila is mezcal, a related but different liquor produced in Mexico. The worm is supposed to endow special powers and is said to have aphrodisiac & hallucinogenic properties. The critter in question is the agave worm, which is actually a butterfly larva. The worms bore into the agave plant's pineapplelike heart, and quite a few get cooked up in the brew used to make mescal. Traditionally the concept of the worms date back to the Aztecs.

Answer 4

NO WORM IN TEQUILA!

"There is no worm in Mexican-bottled tequila. Yes, some American-bottled brand(s) put one in their bottle to impress the gringos and boost sales, but it's only a marketing ploy and not a Mexican tradition. There is a worm - called a gusano, properly a butterfly caterpillar (Hipopta Agavis) - in some types of mezcal (but not all). You may also get a small bag of 'worm salt' - dried gusano, salt and chile powder tied to a mezcal bottle.

The worm-in-the-bottle myth is old and tired. The truth has been broadcast and expounded for years by the cognoscenti of tequila, in newspapers, magazines and on the Net. There should be no need to defend tequila; we should not have to dispel this myth further. It is merely an urban legend.

Is the worm even a traditional element in mezcal production? Not according to Del Maguey Mezcal producers: they say it's a recent development, a marketing ploy that appeared only in the 1940s to try and get more attention on mezcal - and they should know. It's worth reading their story at: www.mezcal.com/worms.html."

Answer 5

makes taste better..
In mexico .. ppl eat worm cuz when they have more tequilla they dont have tht much digestion problem.. as u all noe.. worm are best agricultural helpers...

Answer 6

Its a holdover from the old days. To show that the tequila wasn't watered down makers would drop a worm in it. If the tequila had the correct amount of alcohol the worm would die instantly. If it was watered down the worm would live for several minutes before drowning.

Answer 7

its not tequilla its mescal its like tequilla and i think that the worm is there to taunt you saying " you'll never get me"

Answer 8

Mezcal has a worm in it, to absorb the mescaline.

Answer 9

There is no worm in tequila ............there is a worm in Mescal......and I'd like to know why too

Answer 10

im not sure why they put it in there...but if you eat the worm you hallucinate like crazy!!