Guest Thelema Posted April 25, 2002 oops, Agave No cactus? my most important Q: what is the "mezcal" agave's pharmacology? do I have to post this in "ethnopharmacology"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted April 25, 2002 Originally posted by Thelema: what is the "mezcal" agave's pharmacology? The agave trunk contains lots of starch. The juice is harvested from the injured trunk and then boiled (to break the carbos into sugars) and fermented. The resulting 'wine' (can't think of the name) is a beverage with a position in society similar to beer in the 'old world'. When this wine is distilled the result is tequila. The tequila worm is NOT a traditional aspect of tequila, but a western marketing ploy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted April 26, 2002 A link for the worm story: http://www.mezcal.com/worms.html For the name of the fermented brew "The Aztecs called this beverage octili poliqhui, a name that the Spaniards subsequently corrupted into pulque (POOL-kay)." ripped from http://www.tastings.com/spirits/tequila.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted April 26, 2002 The phytochemical constituents of Agave sisalana (mescal) can be found on Dr. Dukes site, heres a link: Ooops. See next post. [This message has been edited by Auxin (edited 26 April 2002).] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted April 26, 2002 Ok, somehow that link didnt seem to work, heres the link to Dr. Dukes mainpage: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted April 26, 2002 Agave sisalana is not mescal. It is the source of the fibre sisal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted April 27, 2002 Then why does Dr. Duke call it mescal? "Agave sisalana PERRINE (Agavaceae) -- Hemp Plant, Mescal, Sisal, Sisal Agave, Sisal Hemp" -Dr. Duke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted April 28, 2002 for the same reason that he calls it hemp plant common names are rarely a guide. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Thelema Posted April 29, 2002 OK so agave contains starch. 1)if it is not a cactus then what is it? 2)i have a feeling that the plant used to make mescal is not the same as that used to make tequila (completely diff. taste, for eg.) 3)any phenylethamines in aforesaid agave? Mescal makes me troppo! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted April 29, 2002 Originally posted by Thelema: OK so agave contains starch. yes. 1)if it is not a cactus then what is it? agaves are in the Lilliaceae, ie it is a type of lilly. 2)i have a feeling that the plant used to make mescal is not the same as that used to make tequila (completely diff. taste, for eg.) "Technically, tequila is a type of mezcal, but mezcals are not tequilas. They both derive from varieties of the plant known to the natives as 'mexcalmetl.' Although they have many similarities, tequila and mezcal are as different today as scotch and rye. Tequila is made from only agave tequilana Weber, blue variety. Mezcal, on the other hand, can be made from five different varieties of agave". 3)any phenylethamines in aforesaid agave? no, not as far as I know and as far as any published analyses. Mescal makes me troppo! Different types of spirits can have different effects on people. I know at least a couple of people who have unusual reactions to bourbon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mesqualero Posted April 29, 2002 I have found that women get extremely raunchy after drinking Tequila... more so than any other Alcohol I know... I wonder if there is a reason for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted April 29, 2002 Originally posted by Torsten:[bI know at least a couple of people who have unusual reactions to bourbon.[/b] Bourbon makes me terribly terribly cheerful Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
