What is the main ingredient in tequila?

The main ingredient in tequila is blue Weber agave, known botanically as Agave tequilana Weber Azul. By law, no other plant can be used. Growers wait five to twelve years for each plant to mature, then jimadores cut away the leaves to reach the piña, the sugar-rich heart. The piñas are cooked, crushed, fermented and distilled, a sequence we cover step by step in how tequila is made and on our process page.

Check the label: a bottle marked 100% agave uses only blue agave sugars, while a mixto needs just 51%. TROPA Reposado is 100% agave from the highlands of Jalisco, produced at NOM 1412 and rested three months in American oak. Our guide to sipping tequila explains why that label matters.