How to Make Tequila at Home – The well-known alcoholic beverage tequila comes from Mexico. It manufactured from the indigenous blue agave plant of the nation. Due to its unique flavor, tequila is frequently drank straight or in cocktails. Prior to trying to create tequila at home, you should aware of the steps involved and the tools needed.
Although producing tequila at home may be enjoyable and fulfilling, it’s vital to remember that if done incorrectly, the process can be hazardous. Before attempting to create tequila at home, it advised to undergo a distilling course. When creating tequila, it’s also crucial to adhere to all safety precautions and laws. Making tequila at home can be a unique and enjoyable way to enjoy this popular beverage, provided you have the necessary tools and experience.
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Step 1, Components and Tools
Certain supplies and tools needed to make tequila at home. The following ingredients are necessary to manufacture tequila:
1. Azure Agave
Blue agave is the first and most crucial ingredient of tequila. The only agave variety suitable for making tequila is this native plant of Mexico. After the agave plant reaches maturity, which takes eight to twelve years, it harvested. Then after removing the leaves, the piña, or core, is extracted. After that, the piña boiled to turn the starches into sugars.
2. Containers for Fermentation
Once cooked, the piñas mashed and combined with water to make mosto, a sweet drink. Afterwards, the mosto is moved to a fermentation vessel and yeast added to help the carbohydrates turn into alcohol. The liquid that left behind after the three to five days of fermentation is referred to as wash.
3. Equipment for Distillation
Distillation is the last stage in the tequila-making process. The wash moved to a still, a specialized apparatus used to extract the alcohol from the water and other contaminants. Alcohol vaporizes in the heated still and rises to the top where it collected and condensed back into a liquid. Tequila is the name of the liquid that results.
To create tequila at home, you’ll also need a siphon or racking cane, a big pot or still, a thermometer, a hydrometer, and a storage container in addition to the components and tools listed above. It crucial to remember that distilling tequila at home can be risky and should only done by skilled individuals.
Step 2, Method of Preparation
1. Gathering the Agave
Harvesting the agave plant is the first stage in the process of creating tequila. The agave plant takes eight to twelve years to reach maturity. When it’s ready, the leaves removed, revealing the piña, the plant’s center. After that, the piñas brought to the distillery to processed and cooked.
2. Preparing the Aprovided
The piñas need to cooked next. After placed in an oven, the piñas steamed for a duration of 24 to 48 hours. Through fermentation, the sugars produced from the starches in the piñas are transformed into alcohol. The piñas traditionally cooked in a brick oven, but some distilleries also employ autoclaves made of stainless steel.
3. How to Extract Agave Juice
The agave juice extracted by crushing the cooked piñas. After that, the juice is put into fermentation tanks and yeast is added to start the fermentation process. The duration of the fermenting process varies from 3 to 5 days, contingent upon the intended flavor profile. After the fermentation process is finished, the liquid is distilled to get rid of contaminants and boost the alcohol concentration.
The initial distillate, referred to as “ordinario,” is separated from the remaining liquid throughout the distillation process. The finished product, which can be either silver tequila or aged in oak barrels to produce reposado, añejo, or extra añejo tequila, is then made by distilling the ordinario once more.
Step 3, The process of fermentation
The sugars in the agave plant are fermented to create tequila. Tequila is made by distilling the alcohol that is created during this process from the carbohydrates. The actions to take for a fruitful fermentation are as follows:
1. Setting Up the Wash
Making the wash is the first step in the fermentation process. In order to obtain the juice, the agave plant is harvested and its piñas, or hearts, are crushed. Next, to start the fermentation process, the juice is combined with yeast and water. As the yeast breaks down the juice’s carbohydrates, carbon dioxide and alcohol are produced as byproducts. It’s critical to use premium yeast that has been specially formulated for fermenting tequila. Red Star DADY and Lalvin EC-1118 are two well-liked choices. One gram of yeast per liter of wash is a reasonable general rule of thumb, while the exact amount needed will depend on the size of the batch being fermented.
2. Keeping an Eye on the Fermentation
After the wash is ready, it is put in a fermentation tank and allowed to ferment for a few days. It’s crucial to keep an eye on the fermentation process throughout this period to make sure everything is proceeding as planned. Using a hydrometer to determine the wash’s specific gravity is one method of keeping an eye on fermentation. As the alcohol concentration rises and the carbohydrates are consumed, the specific gravity will drop. The process of fermentation is finished when the specific gravity stabilizes.
Keeping an eye on the airlock on the fermentation vessel is another method of keeping an eye on the process. Carbon dioxide produced by the yeast will bubble through the airlock. Fermentation ends when the bubbling reduces in intensity or stops altogether. During fermentation, it’s critical to keep the temperature constant. For tequila fermentation, a temperature range of 75°F to 80°F is optimum. The final product’s flavor and quality may suffer if the temperature drops or rises too much.
Step 4, The process of distillation
Distillation comes next in the tequila-making process after fermentation. In order to extract the alcohol from the water and other contaminants, the fermented liquid is heated during this procedure. The end product is a high-proof, clear spirit called silver (blanco) tequila, which can be matured or bottled.
1. Initially Distilled (Destrozamiento)
“Destrozamiento” is another name for the initial distillation process. The fermented liquid is heated in a sizable copper still known as a “tina de cobre” or “olla de barro” during this process. The alcohol vaporizes and rises to the top of the still when the liquid is brought to a boil using gas or firewood. After cooling, the vapor condenses again into a liquid, which is gathered in a different container. The “ordinario,” a low-proof spirit with around 20% alcohol by volume, is the result of the first distillation. Typically, a second distillation is performed on this spirit to eliminate any residual impurities and boost its alcohol concentration.
2. Rectification in the Second Distillation
“Rerectification” is another term for the second distillation. The ordinario is heated in a smaller copper still known as a “alambique” throughout this procedure. The alcohol vaporizes and rises to the top of the still when the liquid is brought to a boil using steam to heat the still. After cooling, the vapor condenses again into a liquid, which is gathered in a different container. “Tequila Ordinario,” a high-proof spirit with about 55% alcohol by volume, is the result of the second distillation. In order to bottle this spirit as silver (blanco) tequila, its alcohol concentration is typically diluted with water to about 40%. Tequila can also be aged in oak barrels to create extra-añejo, añejo, and reposado varieties.