Agave: Agave Americana, Agave Angustifolia, Agave Anomala, Agave Arizonica, Agave Attenuata, Agave Bovicornuta, Agave Bracteo

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 30. Chapters: Agave americana, Agave angustifolia, Agave anomala, Agave arizonica, Agave attenuata, Agave bovicornuta, Agave bracteosa, Agave celsii, Agave chiapensis, Agave cupreata, Agave deserti, Agave eggersiana, Agave filifera, Agave fourcroydes, Agave geminiflora, Agave ghiesbreghtii, Agave huachucaensis, Agave lechuguilla, Agave murpheyi, Agave neglecta, Agave parryi, Agave parviflora, Agave phillipsiana, Agave salmiana, Agave schottii, Agave shawii, Agave stricta, Agave tequilana, Agave utahensis, Agave victoriae-reginae, Agave vilmoriniana, Aguamiel, List of Agave species, Pulque. Excerpt: Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (agave) plant. It is traditional to central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, somewhat viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste. The drink s history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to certain classes of people. After the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, the drink became secular and its consumption rose. The consumption of pulque reached its peak in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, the drink fell into decline, mostly because of competition from beer, which became more prevalent with the arrival of European immigrants. There are some efforts to revive the drink s popularity through tourism. Pulque is a milk-colored, somewhat viscous liquid that produces a light foam. It is made by fermenting the sap of certain types of maguey (agave) plants. In contrast, mezcal is made from the cooked heart of certain agave plants, and tequila, a variety of mescal, is made all or mostly from the blue agave. About six varieties of maguey are best used for the production of pulque. The name pulque is derived from Nahuatl. The original name of the drink was izt c octli (white pulque), the term pulque was probably mistakenly derived by the Spanish from the octli poliuhqui, which meant "spoiled pulque." Close up of a maguey or agave plantThe maguey plant, also called a century plant in English, is native to Mexico. It grows best in the cold, dry climates of the rocky central highlands to the north and east of Mexico City, especially in Hidalgo and Tlaxcala states. Maguey has been cultivated at least since 200 CE in Tula, Tulancingo and Teotihuacan, and wild plants have been exploited for far longer. The plant historically has had a number of uses. Fibers can be extracted from the thick leaves to make rope or fabric, its thorns can be used as needles or punches and the membrane covering the l