MEZCAL TASTING
Monday, September 12th, 2011
5:30pm
RSVP. ATTENDANCE ONLY BY INVITATION

The Consulate General of Mexico and The Mexican Trade Commission will be promoting the beautiful state of Oaxaca, its food and beverages through an extraordinary event called “Mezcal Tasting”. This will be on the Mexican Fest week, where Mexico will share its amazing culture with the city of Vancouver.

Among the activities, we will have an expert in Mezcal explaining everything about this Distilled Alcoholic Beverage with Protected Geographical Indication. After the presentation of this Spirit, we will offer you to taste several brands of Mezcal with assorted food.

You will be able to experience a trip to Oaxaca with a performance of Guelaguetza, a celebration in which representatives of Oaxaca come together and celebrate the diversity of their traditions and cultures, wearing their traditional clothing and performing folk dances that are particular to their region.

Concept

Mezcal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant (a form of agave) native to Mexico. The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl melt and ixcalli which both mean 'oven cooked agave. The maguey grows in many parts of Mexico, though most mezcal is made in Oaxaca.

History

The maguey was one of the most sacred plants in pre-Hispanic Mexico, and had a privileged position in religious rituals, mythology and the economy. Cooking of the “piña” or heart of the maguey and fermenting its juice was known. The origin of this drink has a myth. It is said that a lightning bolt struck an agave plant, cooking and opening it, releasing its juice. For this reason, the liquid is called the “elixir of the gods".

Upon introduction, these liquors were called aguardiente (fiery water). The Spanish had known distillation processes since the eighth century and had been used to drinking hard liquor. They had been introduced to pulque and other drinks based on the agave or maguey plant, so they began experimenting to find a way to make a product with a higher alcohol content. The result is mezcal.

For further information please contact:
Celia Zepeda
Investment & Trade Commissioner
1177 West Hastings Street, Suite 411
Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3
604 682 3648
604 682 1355
celia.zepeda@promexico.gob.mx

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