For a long time, bars and other tequila sellers have promoted the spirit with a small, thick worm at the bottom of the bottle. It was widely believed that this insect had special powers that would act as a hallucinogenic to those that consume it.
Those looking to spend an extra $5 can buy a shot with the worm inside, and most bars will usually have more available for those that want to try it. This is everything you need to know about tequila with worm, where it came from, and what you should be aware of.
Mezcal
Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t actually tequila that has the worm in it, it’s mezcal. While it comes from a similar plant to tequila and has a similar main flavor, mezcal is made from any variety of the agave plant.
The agave is cooked in pits to create a strong, smoky flavor. While many believe that it is stronger than tequila, both drinks have a similar proof, and the difference is what variety of agave plant they have been made from.
The worms that are seen in mezcal bottles come from moth species that land on the agave plant and settle there until it’s harvested to make the drink. There are usually two main species seen pickled in the bottom of a mezcal bottle, although the white larvae are the most commonly used species of moth.
Marketing Ploy?
Some critics have gone as far as to argue that the worm inside the mezcal bottle is a scam, and that people are paying for the squeamish factor. Of course, it’s something different that can make the experience exciting, but there are no hallucinogenic properties of the worm itself.
In spite of the common belief that they are powerful if ingested, the worm, or larvae, does not have any psychoactive effects. It does not even hold additional alcohol content, in spite of it sitting in mezcal for a long time.
While it is believed that the tequila worm has specific powers, or that it will alter the brain chemicals in some way, it’s more likely to act as a marketing tactic to get you to drink more. Whether you are building up the courage to eat the larvae, or if you want to assert your dominance over your peers, you should probably focus on counting your shots rather than eating a worm, especially if you are squeamish.
The worm, or moth larvae, seen in mezcal bottles has been criticized as a marketing ploy, because many people want to experience something new, or explore the unknown. They can do this by swallowing, or even chewing the larvae, but it tends to come with a bigger price tag than it would be to buy another round.
Is The Worm Alive?
No, it isn’t alive, and will not do anything if you eat or swallow it. It’s actually the larvae of a moth, so not really a worm at all! While it can make people feel daring and powerful to drink mezcal with the larvae of a moth in it, the shots used to encourage you to eat it will probably have a more substantial effect on you.
Should I Eat The Worm?
The worms are edible, but they won’t be particularly tasty. You can eat it without tasting it, especially if you wash it down with mescal, but it is more often the thought of eating a baby moth that makes people gag. The mind is a powerful thing, and it can cause us to gag if we think that the thing in our mouths is gross.
Unless you decide to chew on the larvae, it will not taste like anything in particular if you swallow it. It doesn’t really have any positive or negative effects on your body, so wouldn’t necessarily be worth paying extra for a drink that has the worm at the bottom.
It doesn’t taste of much on its own, although some Mexican chefs have created a fried version that makes a tasty drinking snack. This makes it a little more appetizing, and still has the squeamish factor that some people look for. There is a crunch and soft center that adds seasoning to the creature without making as many people gag.
Summary
Whether you want to taste the famous tequila worm for yourself, or if you want to make the most out of your money, there are a lot of common beliefs about the pickled larvae that aren’t true. It is not a hallucinogen, and will not get you more drunk, so it could be worth spending the money on something else.
The moth that lands on the agave plant is usually seen at the bottom of mezcal bottles, and it could be worth avoiding these because of the marketing appeal to the masses. These are often drinks that are a lower quality than others, and sellers want to make the drink more expensive or interesting. Also, know about the 6 thoughtful gifts to surprise your man and many more articles on Best Digital Updates.
