Neta Agave Tepextate

There are two main morphological expressions of Tepextate in the Miahuatlán district, both exuberantly large and green, but with very differently shaped and sized leaves, with one type expressing considerably shorter and wider leaves. It is said that this type has a higher sugar content and thus produces a slightly larger yield. Both types can take anywhere from 9-25 years to mature, depending on a multitude of environmental factors, although palenqueros that know the plant intimately generally harvest after 12 and 15 years in the wild. It is important to note that the plant known as Tepextate in much of the state of Oaxaca is distinct from the variety known as Pichumetl or Pichomel that grows in both wild and cultivated conditions in the Mixteca regions of Oaxaca and Puebla where this marbled-leaf varietal is often cultivated for pulque. In beginning to understand these plants and the very particular regional flavors found in their distilled form, it is important to respect the often hyper-regional colloquial names applied to the agave. These names reflect very specific cultural and linguistic origins, as well as a particular peoples’ relationship to the plant.