Tequila Infographics

To Worm or Not to Worm

Worm in Tequila

The origins of the worm in the Tequila bottle.

Ah, the worm in the Tequila bottle. Let’s start here: it isn’t a worm at all! It is a moth larvae called a gusano de maguey. And if you find one in your bottle of Tequila, do not drink, we repeat, do not drink that Tequila.

While the CRT allows for other additives to be in Tequila, a larvae is not one of them.

Now if we are talking mezcal vs Tequila, that is a different story! The “worm in the bottle” schtick really began in the mezcal world, perhaps as a marketing ploy, or a way for brands to show the “strength” of their product(if the larvae stayed whole, without decay, it was an exemplary product).

Juan Pablo Diz
About the author

Juan Pablo Diz is the Operations Director for Tequila Partners and a certified Técnico Tequilero. With years of hands-on experience in the agave world, from sourcing to production, he provides an insider's view on the art of tequila. Read his full bio here.

Reading next

Joven Tequila
Where does the name Tequila come from?