Debunking The Myth Of Worms In Tequila
NEWS
By ANDREW AMELINCKX
Over the years, the infamous tequila worm has taken on mythic proportions, finding its way into Hollywood films like "Poltergeist II" and giving rise to urban legends.
However, the creature floating in that bottle of mezcal is not actually a worm, and you'll never find one in a bottle of tequila. It's a caterpillar of the agave redworm moth.
All tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Since these caterpillars are banned from being added to tequila, calling them tequila worms is simply incorrect.
According to a University of Florida study, the man behind the "worm" was likely Jacobo Lozano Paez, a mezcal master who believed it enhanced the color and flavor of the beverage.
He began adding the creatures to mezcal sometime in the 1940s or 1950s. Now, the iconic addition is less commonplace, since many believe it lowers the quality of the product.
