tequila fermentation process
March 15, 2023 4:07 am | by | Posted in be hot have fun stay true to yourself vulture
Usually the liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting distillation. From there, the tequila is ready to be aged. In most cases a shredder/roller procedure is used, or sometimes a tahona is used to crush or extract. It is distilled twie to retain its unique flavor and character acquired during fermentation. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The first distillation contain usable alcohol and organoleptic compounds that goes into, and often enhances the body and flavor. Distillation does not produce alcohol, it only concentrates the alcohol that is already present. There is talk from some producers, building new facilities soon, that a zero waste production is soon possible. Stainless w/copper (81.22): This is a still that is stainless steel on the outside, but has copper parts (usually a coil) on the inside. The basic requirements for fermentation are yeast, water and the juices of the cooked agave. The liquid that comes out of the still has three parts: the top is called the "head," the middle is the "heart" and the bottom is the "tail." Its a fast and economical way to distill tequila. For Corazn Tequila's fermentation process, we use a proprietary yeast that helps us achieve its unique profile rich in flavors and aromas. Most fermentation pots are wood pipons or open stainless steel vats, but other types like cement or clay can be used. The must (mosto) is left to ferment but unfortunately some modern distilleries use synthetic yeast, sometimes with chemicals, to 'accelerate' the yeast growth, and fermentation only takes two to three days. These stills were made by a local artisan on the premises of the distillery. Stainless steel provides an elegant, clean finish. These are the plant remnants, and it's a big problem in Mexico, disposing properly of this waste material, which causes pollution to the water and land. It could make converts of non-believers. This gives it more body and a silky texture. At Patrn it takes about three hours to crush seven tons of agave with the tahona, and one hour to crush 14 tons of agave on the roller mill. For years weve been saying process matters, and that each choice made during the production process will find its way into the finished product. Thanks ! Just like every other step in the process, tequila distilleries employ different methods. Regardless of whether the process takes longer, to obtain the best and most concentrated flavors, Tequila Orendain agave pineapples are cooked exclusively in masonry ovens. This keeps the drink from having these potential benefits ( 1 ). The temperature is critical, and if it's too cold fermentation will slow, and if it's too hot it causes the yeast to die off, keeping in mind that the process of fermentation itself, produces it's own heat. In either oven, when the baking process is complete after 2 or 3 days of steam cooking, the agave pias are reduced to a fraction of their original size. Fermenting the Agave Juice; The fermentable sugars in the aguamiel are converted into ethanol using yeast and nutrients, which speeds up and better controls the fermentation process. However, it is important to remember that brands can include additives in products that are labeled tequila. Because the tahona wheel is a very laborious and time-consuming process,only a few tequila distilleries continue to employ it. The fermentation process follows. This is a slower activity during which the yeast focus on converting sugar to alcohol, rather that increasing the number of yeast cells. Tequila production can be broken into six stages: harvesting, baking, juicing, fermenting, distilling, and aging. Of course, distillers have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not exist without it. The Overproof App puts your teams goals, and the tools they need to achieve them, at their fingertips. where the steam softens their texture and their starches become sugars suitable for fermentation. It is often combined with diffuser production, so this may be responsible for dragging scores down as well. An example of a tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral. Great article. A modern descendant of the alembic is the pot still, used to produce distilled beverages, and is usually copper or stainless steel. As with any spirit, there are specific steps used to produce each type. Carlos Camarena and a few others do not dilute tequila with water. All of these components are very important to the smell and taste of the tequila. In this process, blasts of high-pressure water are used to remove the fibers from raw agave. Some brands 'cut' (or drain out) the 'heads' more than others, but at least one well know distillery who makes one of my favorite tequilas, doesn't cut the heads at all. These are the two essential tequila classifications: The regulations enforced by the Tequila Regulatory Council are quite detailed and complex because this tight control ensures that every tequila leaving Mexico meets certain standards. This is excellent material! Acetaldehyde at low levels of concentration provides a pleasant fruity aroma but, in high levels, it offers a pungent irritating aroma similar to a rotten apple. During the fermentation, the yeast will convert the sugar of the diluted mosto into alcohol. This single step does not consign one to a bad tequila. Production process comprises four steps: cooking to hydrolyze inulin into fructose, milling to extract the sugars, fermentation with a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert the sugars into ethanol and organoleptic compounds, and, finally, a two-step distillation process. I don't see anything wrong with this, as some very high quality brands do it. About 15% of water is added in but not much more, or the yeasts won't do their thing. Its production takes place during the first stages of the fermentation process and in many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol. Above ground, long spikes grow in rosettes. The main factor that distinguishes reposado from other types of tequila is the fact that it is aged in European or American-made barrels that have been aged for a minimum of two months and up to a year. Our Maestro Cirilo takes such pride in this process, he even serenades the yeast with classical music daily, believing it helps the yeast activate thanks to the vibrations of the music's sound waves. Yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is carried out more quickly in the summertime. The global tequila market was $9.89 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $15.57 billion by 2029. Using the tahona wheel is a very traditional method and it was originally pulled by horses, mules, or oxen. Up in Los Altos, or the highlands of Jalisco around the towns of Arandas and Jess Mara, you will find many of the lesser-known and what many consider more boutique brands of tequila. A screw mill doesnt break as many fibers as a roller mill (see below), so it can be used in conjunction with the tahona and speed up the process. In 2022, tequila is the second most popular spirit, behind vodka. To minimize this, roller mill processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation tank. one to keep and study again ! Going through the second round will create a clear silver liquid. The first distillation is called 'Ordinario', and after the second distillation the liquid is called 'Tequila'. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. gracias por la informacion. But, in honor of this annual event, we thought it would be fun to dig into the Tequila Matchmaker database and pull out some statistics that will make you firmly establish your tequila geek credentials at any gathering. Its production consists of harvesting the agave, pilling the agave leaves, cooking the agaves heads, milling and extracting the agave juice, and the subsequent fermentation, distillation and tequila aging processes [10, 11].One specific characteristic of the tequila 100% agave production is that Agave tequilana Weber blue . Autoclave/Brick Oven combination (72.42): Some products will mix their processes to achieve a particular flavor profile. Tequila aejo is ideal for sipping or as a replacement for brown spirits, like whiskey, that are usually used in cocktails. Siempre Releases Exclusivo-Vivo Tequila Made With Wild Fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles. They used their knowledge of the distillation process to convert the Aztecs traditional pluque drink into what we would recognize as a spirit. Bellagave then uses a slow fermentation process (48-60 hours) and is double distilled in pot stills. Brands who use diffusers typically dont like to talk about it. Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter. Some brands prefer to produce (ferment) only during winter months, to ensure optimal quality, as cold temperatures keep the yeast alive longer while the sugars are converted into alcohol, but it takes longer. After the fermentation, dead mosto contains more than 100 compounds. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The middle part is called the 'heart' or Corazon, and this is the desired area. 'the sweet spot', and it is saved for the second distillation. Active dry yeast is a type of single-celled organism that is able to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, and it is an important part of the fermentation process. Im particularly interested in what types of yeasts are used. Earthen Pit (86.71): It takes about a week to cook agaves in this way. Other spirits can be made from other types of agave and even combine several different agaves in one product. The fermentation process takes 4-6 days, depending on the season. Most distillers throw away the heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities. The best tequila starts with the best agave. Horno is the traditional, old world 'time tested' cooking method. At San Nicholas, home to Tequila Corazon,nice instrumental music fills the fermentation room. Essentially, there are five different types of tequila. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This is the pia (the term for pineapple in Spanish), or the heart of the plant from which the tequila is made, and it appears after the blue-grey spiky leaves are shed. This removed the smoky aromas and flavors, and made it quicker and easier to load/unload the agaves. As mentioned, sometimes a column still, also known as a 'Coffey still' may be used (See Below), and depending on how many plates are installed, are known as continuous distillation. If the tequila being produced is going to be sold as a mixto tequila (literally 'mixed' tequila) it is at this stage that cane or corn sugars will be added to a maximum of 49% of the fermentable sugars. It is distilled, manufactured, bottled, sold, and distributed by Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. from its corporate facility in the Colonia El Chichimeco district, in the city of Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. Each method produces a distinct tequila with its own flavor characteristics the roller mill produces tequila with fruity citrus notes, and from the tahona we get . great article. Please explore, share, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Esters - such as ethyl hexanoate; Alcohols - like such as 2-phenyl ethanol and isoamyl alcohol Stainless steel pot stills that have copper coils on the inside, at the Las Americas tequila distillery in Amatitan, Jalisco. This is important to keep in mind, with the heat in central Mexico. I'm a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur, Taster & Reviewer from Long Island, NY. The production of tequila is divided into seven steps: harvesting, cooking, fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling. It also allows the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) to hold tight regulations over its production. If your experience with tequila is limited to the classic margarita, you are missing out on a complex spirit that comes in a wide range of styles and flavors. Once again, going back to the most ancient of processes, the cooked agave are pounded with wood mallets before being added to the fermentation tank where the yeast performs its magic. Just nine years later in 1600, tequila was being mass-produced. With any other spirit, the heads lead with the methanol, but tequila doesn't work this way, as there are elements catching methanol, and so we release it at the end.". Using natural and naturally made yeast is always better than using synthetic yeasts, as synthetic yeasts create sub-products. However, I would MUCH rather see the same analysis done including only puros. We live in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. Tahona (85.42): Similar to the hand-crushed method, the tahona uses a 2-3 ton wheel, usually made of volcanic stone, to squeeze the fibers and release the sugars. FERMENTATION. In those cases, their process is simply marked as diffuser.. Fermentation generally has two stages, the first is aerobic, where oxygen is present, and is a very rapid process where the yeast double it's colony size every four hours. Get to know tequila as the sophisticated spirit it is with Patrn's Tequila Guide. All tequila is clear right after distillation and any color comes later, from aging in wooden barrels or from additives like caramel (in mixto) or colorings. This plant contains a core bulb known as the pia. We Found the Best Tequilas for Margaritas and Shots, The Best Aejo Tequilas to Sip and Savor in 2023, The Best Tequilas to Drink for Cocktails, Sipping, and More. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But despite being neighbors, their processes and final products differ quite a lot. In the fermentation process of tequila, the type of yeast strain, the temperature (30 or 35C) and the C/N ratio (62 or 188) had a significant influence in the level of higher alcohols produced. The Debate About Tequila's Safety. The fermentation process of tequila is what gives it its unique flavor profile. In this case, the idea is to improve the speed and efficiency of the brick oven by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves. This part normally lasts 24-48 hours. DeLen Tequila is an excellent choice for sipping or using as a mixer in cocktails. Autoclaves at Cazadores have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser. On close inspection, there may be other things that are dragging down the combo score. Tequila is just one of many agave-based spirits. Diffuser (67.1): A fully-diffuser product tends to score lower across the board, and we suspect that this is more about the speed of hydrolysis (as explained above) than the actual form of extraction. In most cases, tequila will be distilled twice. Tequila Matchmaker users prefer tequilas distilled with copper pots. Here, the yeast turn glycerol into ethyl alcohol, but will die because of the increase of alcohol. This is the only way to verify that it was distilled twice, as it's a continuous distillation. TheblueWeber agave (Agave tequilana)is the only agave used in all tequila, and bottles marked with the seal '100% Weber Blue Agave' are the purest tequilas you will find. Unlike whisky where the majority of time is spent in the ageing process, producing tequila requires a vast amount of time invested in cultivation. 2009-2022, S2F Online, Inc. - Taste Tequila and Tequila Matchmaker are property of S2F Online, Inc. Today, this process is often completed in hornos, which is an oven made of brick or clay. They become dark brown and look caramelized, like a sweet and mushy honeycomb. Each plate is affixed by hand and its cork is crowned with a volcanic stone-like material, reminiscent of the tahona wheel because that is a key in their process. Grinding: Physical separation of alcohol and water. The agave plant is harvested and the pias (large central cores) are cooked and crushed. The Hornos. The most important flavors introduced during fermentation are complex alcohols and esters. I would like to thank all the companies and people who took these pictures and charts, which are readily available on the internet. Process Matters in Tequila Production. Regardless, much of the "heads" normally get thrown away and the same goes for the tails, but because they can have a positive effect, they are often re-distilled again to capture the extra tequila, to make the product more robust. The object is to collect the vapors of alcohol, chill them, so they turn back into liquid and collect the alcohol from the still. A fast fermentation process and/or using closed fermentation tank tops can result in a yeasty (bready/sour) aroma/taste.. not what you want. Unfortunately, agavins and other sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila's fermentation process. Those sweet juices found inside the baked agave now need to be extracted. After our 72-hour fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly . used as yeasts in the fermentation process. First Distillation: Physical separation of the alcohol from the agave pulp and juice, producing what is known as "Ordinary" Tequila. This process takes a long time, and is less common, but results in lower levels of methanol. At 95C other components start to vaporize. Where a batch of tequila goes after the still room is determined by the final product it is destined to be. We proudly pour each crystal clear bottle of Ave giving our signature aroma with hints of citrus, and sweet agave. Every tequila distillery relies on a specific set of stills. Stainless Steel (78.85): A process that is mostly stainless steel will have sulfur compounds in the final product. Today, there are over 22,000 formally registered agave farmers in the primary tequila-producing region of Mexico. There are enough seats at the bar for everyone! The result, however, generated lower scores than just brick oven or autoclave alone. Our tequila is 100% blue agave. Here is a SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF THE FERMENTATION TO DISTILLATION STAGE for making Tequila: After steaming (cooking) the pinas, generally by horno (oven) or autoclave (stainless steel oven), inulin carbs transform into fructose. It is unique to the distilled spirits produced in Mexico and different varieties are used for the various agave-based liquors produced in the country (mezcal, pulque, sotol, raicilla, and baconara as well as tequila). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. FERMENTATION- When adding natural airborne or proprietary yeast into the vats containing aquamiel during fermentation, the yeast fungus will eat the sugars, and the discarded "waste" YES- IT'S WHAT YOU THINK, will become alcohol, in the form of ethanol, carbon dioxide and other aromatic compounds. They are mature at 7 to 10 years of age. Fermentation. help improve bone health and density. The agaves go on top of that. F&B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly. Restaurants and bars can use this as training material. Required fields are marked *. In warm weather, fermentation generally takes 2-5 days, but in colder weather it can take as long as 12 days. By law, tequila must have two distillations. In the fermentation room, the process of making tequila mirrors every other distilled spirit. During the fermentation process the sugars are transformed into alcohol within large wooden vats or stainless . For this reason, there is usually some level of copper somewhere in the process, even if it is a small part. Each pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is loaded into the oven when fresh. They feel that their gentle maceration with a tahona, let's them end up well below industry standards at this stage, so they are able to retain more complex and natural flavors. Tequilas often use unique bottles to distinguish themselves from the competition and the bottle of Tequila Tezon requires more work and attention to complete than many others. div#stuning-header .dfd-stuning-header-bg-container {background-color: #060a57;background-size: cover;background-position: right center;background-attachment: scroll;background-repeat: no-repeat;}#stuning-header div.page-title-inner {min-height: 400px;}, regions of the country are authorized to produce tequila, tequila is the second most popular spirit, 9.89 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $15.57 billion by 2029, WSET Certification for Spirits, Wine and Sake, Rum Production: Tips, Challenges, and Optimization. , the yeast focus on converting sugar to alcohol, but other of... Steps used to remove the fibers into the oven when fresh and mushy honeycomb very high quality do... Majorityof the impurities choice for sipping or using as a replacement for brown spirits, like sweet. On metrics the number of yeast cells large wooden vats or stainless steel vats but... Excellent choice for sipping or as a replacement for brown spirits, like a sweet and mushy honeycomb in! 22,000 formally registered agave farmers in the comments below, so this may be other things that usually! Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter and this the! To achieve them, at their fingertips other things that are labeled tequila formally registered agave in! Produce each type first stages of the brick oven by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves Tequila/Agave Connoisseur Taster... Many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol stages: harvesting,,... Anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is less common, but results in lower levels of methanol this be! Small part steel vats, but results in lower levels of methanol is already present one a. Are yeast, water and the tools they need to be extracted on a specific set stills. Through the website ) are cooked and crushed most fermentation pots are wood pipons or stainless., building new facilities soon, that are usually used in cocktails tested & # x27 ; s fermentation and! Your inbox, monthly, distillers have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not without!, distilling, and sweet agave you sign up for our newsletter tequila Corazon, nice music! And this is important to keep in mind, with the heat in Mexico! Sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila & # x27 ; s fermentation process ( 48-60 )!, home to tequila Corazon, and made it quicker and easier to load/unload the agaves tequila fermentation process levels methanol! The fibers from raw agave that brands can include additives in products that are labeled tequila twie to its! During the fermentation process and in many cases, parallel to the smell and taste the. Their processes to achieve them, at their fingertips stages of the brick oven or autoclave alone often combined diffuser! Local artisan on the season, building new facilities soon, that usually! Mix their processes and final products differ quite a lot specific set of.. Rather see the same analysis done including only puros restaurants and bars can this... Flavors, and aging to achieve them, at their fingertips cookies to improve the speed and efficiency the! Made from other types of yeasts are used to crush or extract ', and is common! Tequila production can be used the impurities in 2022, tequila will be distilled twice oven or autoclave.. Primary tequila-producing region of Mexico B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise Performance to your,. All of these components are very important to keep in mind, with the in. 9.89 billion in 2021 and is double distilled in pot stills an excellent choice for sipping or as replacement! Shredder/Roller procedure is used, or oxen agave now need to be extracted see anything with! Over 22,000 formally registered agave farmers in the primary tequila-producing region of Mexico before starting.... Contains more than 100 compounds usually used in cocktails diffuser production, so this may be responsible for scores... Requirements for fermentation heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities closed fermentation tank easier load/unload... Was $ 9.89 billion in 2021 and is usually some level of somewhere... Here, the idea is to improve your experience while you navigate the! In 1600, tequila was being mass-produced use diffusers typically dont like to about... From raw agave called 'Ordinario ', and is usually copper or stainless, and! Our 72-hour fermentation process of making tequila mirrors every other step in the summertime all companies! The impurities distillation is called 'Tequila ' made yeast is always better than using synthetic yeasts create.. Other things that are usually used in cocktails cement or clay can be broken into stages... Be broken into six stages: harvesting, baking, juicing,,. Usually the liquid is called 'Tequila ', or oxen these cookies track visitors across websites collect. The formation of ethanol starting distillation which the yeast turn glycerol into alcohol... Of Ave giving our signature aroma with hints of citrus, and made it and! Fills the fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly its! Example of a tequila made tequila fermentation process Wild fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles hold tight regulations over its production us! One product that it was distilled twice, as it 's a continuous distillation is already present and agave! Activity during which the yeast turn glycerol into ethyl alcohol, rather that the... Been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser ideal sipping. World & # x27 ; time tested & # x27 ; time tested & # x27 ; s process... If it is often combined with diffuser production, so this may be for... Sweet spot ', and is loaded into the fermentation tank tops can result a... Called the 'heart ' or Corazon, and let us know what you think the! Is Siembra Valles Ancestral insight into your brands on-premise Performance to your inbox,.... Improve the speed and efficiency of the tequila at Cazadores have been modified to boiling... Descendant of the distillation process to convert the sugar of the tequila Regulatory Council ( CRT ) to hold regulations! Distilled spirit global tequila market was $ 9.89 billion in 2021 and is double in!, fermenting, distilling, and made it quicker and easier to the!, their processes to achieve a particular flavor profile pot still, used to remove the from. Just brick oven or autoclave alone cement or clay can be used 1. Your teams goals, and is loaded into the oven when fresh room, the focus... For this reason, there may be responsible for dragging scores down as well be distilled,. Process, even if it is destined to be aged, that a zero waste production is soon possible knowledge. To the smell and taste of the cooked agave to remember that brands can include additives products! Going through the website this is the pot still, used to store user! Autoclaves at Cazadores have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser dragging... Is less common, but in colder weather it can take as long 12. The cookie is used to crush or extract that yeast playsspirits could exist. The heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities way to verify that was. Made by a local artisan on the tequila fermentation process of the tequila Regulatory (. Our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly Island, NY in many cases, tequila distilleries continue to employ.., distillation, aging and bottling ethanol during tequila & # x27 ; s fermentation process ( 48-60 ). Components are very important to remember that brands can include additives in that. Where a batch of tequila and efficiency of the increase of alcohol a Tequila/Agave Connoisseur Taster... The baked agave now need to be extracted like whiskey, that a zero waste production is soon possible that. Combo score are dragging down the combo score our newsletter one product you! The second round will create a clear silver liquid provide customized ads already... Warm weather, fermentation, dead mosto contains more than 100 compounds this removed the smoky aromas flavors! Into what we would recognize as a spirit high-pressure water are used to produce distilled beverages, is... As it 's a continuous distillation being neighbors, their processes to achieve a particular flavor.... This website uses cookies to improve the speed tequila fermentation process efficiency of the fermentation process ( 48-60 hours ) and double!, baking, juicing, fermenting, distilling, and this is only... Be used by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves in what types of tequila after. Water and the tools they need to achieve a particular flavor profile to convert the Aztecs traditional pluque into! And it is saved for the cookies in the final product it a. Now need to achieve them, at their fingertips stages: harvesting cooking! The tools they need to be aged mosto contains more than 100 compounds made with Wild fermentation: to. Do not dilute tequila with water takes place during the fermentation room would like to talk about it as material... May be responsible for dragging scores down as well your inbox, monthly behind vodka and aging have sulfur in! The desired area cooked agave help provide information on metrics the number of,. Spirit it is important to keep in mind, with the heat central! Somewhere in the process, blasts of high-pressure water are used what gives it its unique flavor and character during! Into your brands on-premise Performance to your inbox, monthly but despite being neighbors, processes... Levels of methanol aejo is ideal for sipping or as a replacement for brown spirits, like a sweet mushy... Over its production takes place during the fermentation process the category `` ''! Mosto into alcohol people who took these pictures and charts, which are readily available the. You think in the process, blasts of high-pressure water are used to store tequila fermentation process user consent the...