What's the Deal with the Worm?

A reader wanted to know about the mythical qualities of the worm in mezcal, which of course are said to cause you to see leprechauns melting on purple clouds and such. Such queries underscore the need for this blog and give me the warm fuzzies knowing that by dispelling such myths I am offering an invaluable public service, helping lead mankind out of the darkness with the light of truth. Just like da Vinici in the Renaissance really.

Now, to clarify, worms are only found in some mezcal – not tequila. The Mexican standards authority prohibits it. Second, they are not really worms. They are in fact the larvae of a moth that infests the maguey plants from which mezcal is made. Hmmm, moth larvae. It’s a caterpillar basically. So these “worms” often found themselves in the mash, and one enterprising Mexican distiller in the 1940s happened upon the idea to leave them in rather than filter them out. In fact, he added a worm to every bottle – and not for its purported hallucinogenic qualities. It was all marketing.

The maguey worm found in mezcal is a delicacy in Mexico and is actually highly nutritious. Not only does it not make you stark raving mad, the worm is the most healthful part of mezcal and apparently makes a delicious salsa. The worms you find in mescal are pickled and pesticide free, so enjoy.

As for the worm's impact on the taste of the mezcal, I suppose you will detect a hint of pickled moth larvae. I’m having a hard time thinking that is a good thing.

For more information on mezcal, be sure to visit your local library.