Hola!
Today was our school field trip to the pueblo (small town) of Tequila. As you probably guessed, this is where all the famous Tequila is made and imported from. We started our day with a tour of the facility, Jose Cuervo. They showed a video that briefly explained the process of making Tequila, and the history. Then, they took us to the next room where their car collection that is specially made for Jose Cuervo. We then traveled to an area where they cut apart the agave, the plant used to make Tequila. Just to note a fact, it takes 7-10 years to grow agave. After they cut part the agave for the pina, the core of the plant, they place them in an oven for several hours. Then, they set the agave out, which will take up to 8 hours to cool. They actually had pieces of the agave for us to suck on, because not only do they use this plant for Tequila, they also use it for agave syrup. It was very sweet! Then we were taken to the fermentation room, where they turn the tequila into the liquid everyone loves, which will take about 50 hours. Now, although they ferment this to turn into the alcoholic drink, it is not colored. In fact, it is not finished as a product for distribution. Once it ferments, it becomes a very clear liquid in which they will place into a barrel to age. This clear liquid is the purest form of tequila. We tried this type, and it was very ...interesting. We then traveled back to where the agave plants are taken to be cut, and a gentlemen who cuts this plant, demonstrated the different cuts to keep the plant trimmed. Afterwards, we traveled to the room where they place the tequila into barrels to age. There are certain types of tequila depending on how they age. One type is Blanco Tequila, or White tequila which ages for 60 days. The other type is Reposado which is aged for 60 days to 1 year. The next type is Aneja which is aged between 1-3 years. There is another type called Aneja-extra which is aged for 3-7 years. What the aging does is color the tequila which can make it darker and smoother. The darker it is, the smoother it tastes. We also tried this type which was smoother then its purest form, but still a little hard to swallow for me. After the tour we went to a courtyard where they keep their mascot, the raven. It was a very beautiful black bird, which I had never seen in person before. It was a sight! Then we went to a muesum where it use to be the distillery where the Tequila was originally made during Jose Antonio Curervo's time (as you can guess in the name, he is the founder of this tequila company). We then tasted margaritas, which are made with tequila.
We had some free time in which we could shop and travel around the town. The whole group ate at La Choula, which some of you might be familiar with the name of a salsa also sold in the states. They have a restaurant in Tequila where it seems they have combined companies, because they sell the salsa that is sold in the states, although I saw they had a few more flavors. I bought a couple souvenirs, which included two cute dolls, one dressed as a woman in traditional Mexican clothing, and a man dressed in Marachi clothing. I got both as a reminder of my husband and me! We then traveled home, very tired but happy about our trip. It was amazing to travel to the city where one of everyone's favorite alcoholic beverage is made, and learn the history as to how it started. The people where wonderful and I am so glad we got to have this as a field trip!
Today I have many pictures of today's adventure, so check those out. Gracias mucha todas my amigos, y hasta manana!
Paula
Michele and I on the way to Tequila.
The vast land scape of the country side.
A church we saw in the distance from the bus.
The map of the town of tequila.
A house that had beautiful architecture.
The gates that contained several ravens on both sides.
The factory of the Tequila.
I took this before realizing that this lead to the old distillery.
The statue of the mascot, the raven.
Falisha, Michele, and I at the gates of the Factory.
A piece of artwork that was found in the lobby of the factory, prior to our video.
A plaque dedicated to the artist of the statues in the lobby. His name is Juan Soriano.
Another piece of artwork by Juan Soriano.
A painting by the entrance of the factory. Not sure if this was by Juan Soriano, but it was very beautiful!
Got a shot of this sign before the movie we watched.
Violet, a girl we meet in class (and a very sweet person), in our class.
The agave plant once it has been cut up.
The ovens the agave are placed in once they are cooked.
The agave piece once it has been cooked. One thing I forgot to post, is that they add lots of sugar while its cooking, giving it its sweet taste.
A man who cuts the top of the agave. The pieces in the pile are the actual agave, and are normally underground while they are growing.
Displaying us the trimming process with a huge machete.
The finished trimming.
All of us in a room where the mural displaying the pride of making tequila. All of us in the group: From the left, Heather, myself, Violet, Larissa, Falisha, Brenda, and Michele.
The mural was quite long, so I picked my favorite part of the piece, which was this.
A raven in a birdcage. As stated before, the raven in the mascot.
A line of the Cuervo family on the wall of the old distilery.
The old oven in which the agave are cooked.
This is were they distilled the juices of the agave.
One of the carriages in the old distillery.
During our free time, we saw this mural being painted. It reminded me of the one we saw in the factory. I wonder what this will turn out to be.
A church that is in the town of Tequila.
Brenda and I in front of the church.
Violet took this picture of me in front of this fountain. I heard there may be a drought because of the fountain not running.
A newer church across from this one.
This mural was captured in a hotel area. I saw this and was amazed at the detailed precision of the paint. If there is one thing I have pick when it comes what I love about the Mexican Culture, it is the art! (Frida Kalo is one of my favorite artists).
La Cholula, the restaurant where we ate, and is famous for their sauces.
Heather and I at the restaurant.
The dish I ordered called Enchiladas Tapapitas. Esta muy bien!
Chips and salsa.
Two little souvenirs I bought that reminded me of my husband and I. They were so cute, I couldn't pass them up.
Several dolls in the gift that repensented a part of Mexico. Jalisco is where Guadalajara is. Jalisco is A the state, while Guadalajara is the county.
This is a sign that discussed about the area we where in. It is in both English and Spanish.
