They might look and taste the same, but tequila and mezcal are very different. Mezcal is prepared with other plants aside from "agave" (that is a green pointy leaf, sort of like a cactus). Mezcal also has a lot more spices in it! They bottle mezcal with a worm to let people know that the degree of alcohol in this beverage is very powerful! 


 

Mezcal is very common in cities like Oaxaca and in the South of Mexico. People say that the worms come from the same plant and some people even consider that if you eat them you will be very lucky! 
 

Mezcal has the little worm, while tequila doesn't. They also consider the worm to be an aphrodisiac- a very powerful one. 

You can prepare two types of drinks with these liquors 
 

• 60 cc of mezcal
• 4 teaspoons of sugar
• 10 leaves of mint 
• 80 cc of pineapple juice
• 1/2 a lemon's juice 
• Ice cubes

Smash the mint leaves and the sugar, sort of like when you prepare a mojito. Add the mezcal, the pineapple, and shake it very well. Squeeze the lemon juice and put a little lemon zest inside the drink. Serve in a tall glass with ice. 


 

• 30 cc of mezcal
• 50 cc of orange juice
• 1 splash of grenadine
• Crushed or cubed ice

In a tall glass add the mezcal, the orange juice, and the ice. Shake and add the grenadine. Serve. 

I recommend you to go out of the box and try the worm. I did it, it tastes like alcohol because it's completely drenched! 


 

Author: Jose Montero

Read the original Spanish post here.