Additives In Tequila: What’s in Your Drink?

Celebrity tequilas, which are exclusively crafted from 100% blue Weber agave, abundantly grace the shelves of Florida, my place of residence. Even though the bottle explicitly indicates it is 100% agave, it is crucial to note that this does not guarantee the absence of additives in tequila. The highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, serve as the nurturing ground for this particular variety of agave. The Tequila Regulatory Council, also known as CRT, diligently oversees the adherence to proper production methods.

The CRT lets up to 1% of 100% agave tequila have additives. You won’t see it on the bottle. Only four additives are okay: glycerin, caramel coloring, oak extract, and sugar syrup.

Key Takeaways

• There are over 2,700 registered tequila brands and 227 distilleries in Mexico.
• The CRT allows up to 1% of 100% agave tequila to contain undisclosed additives.
• Approximately 70% of tequilas sold contain additives, which can impact the flavor and quality.
• Additive-free tequilas are in high demand, especially among health-conscious consumers.
• Artisanal tequila producers like Fortaleza pride themselves on making tequila without any additives.

Types of Additives in Tequila

The Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) says up to 1% of additives can be used in 100% agave tequila. These additives help make the taste and color the same in every batch. They are used by tequila makers a lot.

Common Additives

The CRT allows four additives: glycerin, caramel coloring, oak extract, and jarabe (sugar-based syrups). Glycerin makes the mouthfeel better. Caramel coloring makes the drink darker. Oak extract gives it flavors and smells like it’s been aged in a barrel. Jarabe makes it sweeter.

Legal Regulations

The label must say that if more than 4% of additives are used. This rule lets tequila makers change the taste, smell, and look of their drinks. But, it also keeps consumers informed about what’s in their tequila. See International Tequila Academy for a legal breakdown.

Additive	Purpose	Legal Limit
Glycerin	Improve mouthfeel	Up to 1% of total liquid
Caramel Coloring	Darken color	Up to 1% of total liquid
Oak Extract	Add barrel-aged flavors and aromas	Up to 1% of total liquid
Jarabe (Sugar-based Syrups)	Add sweetness	Up to 1% of total liquid

Impact of Additives on Tequila

The use of natural and artificial additives changes the taste of tequila. These additives, like vanilla and sugar, hide the real taste of agave. This makes the tequila taste less unique and more like many others.

Alteration of Natural Characteristics

Tequila makers can add up to 1 percent of flavoring or additive without telling us what it is. Even 100% agave tequilas might have additives because of shortcuts. These additives can make tequila taste less complex and lose its special flavors and smells.

Consumer Skepticism

People are getting more skeptical about tequila because of additives. They want to know more about what’s in their drinks. They like the variety in wine, hoping for the same in tequila. But additives can trick people into thinking they’re getting something they’re not.

Old ways of making tequila take more time and effort. This makes the taste and smell more complex. Brands like PATRÓN have kept making tequila the old way since 1989. They don’t use additives.

Additive Type	Maximum Allowed Limit
Mellowing Additives (caramel coloring, natural oak extract, glycerin, sugar syrup)	4% of each additive
Flavoring Additives (dry extract, sugar)	85g/L dry extract, 75g/L sugar (16% of total quantity)

Rules about additives in tequila have changed over time. But, there’s still not enough transparency about them. This keeps people from trusting tequila and wanting authentic, additive-free options.

Additive-Free Tequila

More people want real tequila experiences, leading to a trend in additive-free tequila. These tequilas don’t have synthetic flavorings, colorings, or sweeteners. This lets the agave’s true taste come through. Health-conscious millennials love these pure tequilas for their quality and transparency.

Certification and Transparency: Identifying Authentic Additive-Free Tequilas

Tequila Matchmaker helps people find real, additive-free tequilas. It’s a project that checks tequila brands for additives. This ensures the tequilas are pure and safe to drink and consumers know whether their tequila contains undisclosed additives.

The Benefits of Additive-Free Tequila

Additive-free tequila tastes more real because it doesn’t have synthetic stuff added. It’s also better for your health because it has less sugar and calories. Drinking this tequila means you get a true taste of the agave.

People want additive-free tequila for its honesty and realness. As more people look for this, the tequila industry will change to meet their needs.

Metric	Value
Percentage of Tequila brands in the Additive-Free Alliance	100%
Number of Tequila brands included in the Additive-Free Alliance	98
Percentage of Tequila brands with additives	0%
Number of Tequila brands marked as expired in the program	3
Date of the oldest Tequila brand inclusion	2013-11-01
Date of the most recent Tequila brand inclusion	2024-07-07
Percentage of Tequila brands with renewal dates in 2023	82%
Number of Tequila brands with renewal dates in 2024	16
Average duration between renewals	1 year

Conclusion

Tequila making has always been complex, with many additives used. This has made some drinkers wary. The Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) says up to 4% additives are okay in 100% agave tequila. But, many are now asking for tequilas without additives.

Now, the tequila world is moving towards being more real. Additive-free tequilas are becoming popular, from Blanco to Añejo. This shows that people care more about health and quality. They want spirits that truly show the agave’s natural taste and smell.

By knowing how additives affect tequila and choosing additive-free ones, drinkers can enjoy a truer tequila. The tequila industry is changing. It will balance old ways with new ideas. This will help keep tequila’s true spirit alive for the future.