India's 'blue gold' starts a new drinks industry
Summary
Farmers in India are starting to collect and sell agave plants, which grow wild and were once ignored. This plant is important because it is used to make tequila and other agave-based drinks, creating new business opportunities and income for Indian farmers and drink producers.Key Facts
- Agave americana, a cactus plant, grows wild in parts of India, especially the Deccan Plateau.
- Indian farmers traditionally used agave as natural fencing, not as a crop.
- Globally, agave plants support a $15 billion market for drinks like tequila and mezcal.
- In Mexico, blue agave is farmed commercially, but in India, agave is mainly gathered from wild plants.
- Farmers like Masapalli Venkatesh coordinate groups to collect wild agave and supply it to distilleries.
- The key part of the plant for alcohol is the heart called the piña, which must be harvested before it blooms to keep sugar levels high.
- Harvested agave must be processed within 24 hours to preserve sugars needed for quality spirits.
- The Indian market for agave spirits is growing about 31% each year, with more consumers trying these new drinks.
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