Impending tequila shortage shows signs of improvement just in time for Cinco de Mayo
Compared to a few months ago, the overall situation has improved, and stress on the agave crop has decreased this spring for the country as a whole, according to Everstream Analytics' chief meteorologist Jon Davis.
Mexico drought eases, tequila shortage improves in time for Cinco de Mayo
Chief Meteorologist at Everstream Analytics Jon Davis on how drought conditions in Mexico have improved over the past few months, decreasing the stress to agave, the base crop of tequila.
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, the impending tequila shortage is showing signs of improvement.
While we can’t say the same for your chance of a hangover (drink responsibly), Everstream Analytics' chief meteorologist Jon Davis says the drought situation in Mexico is getting better.
Tequila on the rocks: Mexico's extreme dryness hurting agave crop production
Extreme weather during the past few years in Mexico and other areas of the world has hurt crop production of the base and main ingredient in tequila.
"Rains have caused an increase in soil moisture reserves across a significant portion of Mexico," Davis said. "The result had been a decrease in stress to agave (the base crop of tequila) and other crops across the region."
POTENTIAL TEQUILA SHORTAGE COULD IMPACT YOUR NEXT MARGARITA DUE TO MEXICO'S EXTREME DRYNESS
The map above depicts the percent of normal precipitation during the March-April period.
(Everstream Analytics)
Davis said rainfall during the past two months has been near to above normal across much of the northern and eastern sections of Mexico.
"The bad news is, not all of Mexico has seen an improvement," he adds. "Portions of western Mexico have continued to have well below normal rainfall totals."
Since agave is grown across the majority of Mexico, some areas have experienced improved growing conditions while other areas continue to be stressed by drought.
Compared to a few months ago, Davis said the overall situation has improved and stress on the agave crop has decreased this spring for the country as a whole.
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A Jimador (person who works on the agave plant) cuts an agave plant to extract the pineapple used to make tequila in Tequila, Jalisco state, Mexico, on July 23, 2021, amid the International Tequila Day.
(ULISES RUIZ/AFP / Getty Images)
Officials: Millions of liters of tequila on hand
The Tequila Regulatory Council in Mexico, which oversees the inspection, analysis, and certification of tequila, told FOX Weather that there is currently an inventory of more than 458.8 million liters of tequila on hand – so there is no need to fret.
Officials also said the plantation of the raw material of tequila, the agave tequilana Weber blue variety, is not currently at risk due to extreme heat.
"It is important to specify that the agave is a plant of semi-arid climates, so it is widely adapted," the council told FOX Weather. "In addition, its leaves are covered with wax to protect themselves from heat or water loss since it generally reproduces in places where the presence of water it is little or almost nothing. It is also a wonderful plant that captures carbon dioxide."
SNOWFALL CONSIDERED CRUCIAL FOR LONG-TERM DROUGHT MITIGATION
Third-generation master "mezcalero" Rogelio Mateo chops up "Espadin" agave hearts - known as "piñas" because they look like large pineapples - in the "tahona" or grinding mill, prior to the fermentation process used to make mezcal, on February 24, 2017, in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca state, Mexico.
(OMAR TORRES/AFP / Getty Images)
In Mexico, there are more than 200 species of agave that do not produce tequila; only the Agave tequilana Weber blue variety is used. For the production of Tequila, sugars are extracted from the pineapple of the agave. Other uses of agave are used as a sweetener and as inulin, a type of prebiotic.
Tequila's production and its raw material planting can only be carried out in 181 municipalities in five states of Mexico.