Tequila, Mezcal and Pulque

Everyone's heard of Tequila, but are you familiar with Mexico's other drinks that are also made from the agave plant? Pulque was a favorite of the ancient Aztecs, but modern Mexicans still drink it, although it has largely been displaced by drinks with higher alcohol content. Mezcal is made in the traditional way in many villages throughout Mexico. Visiting a palenque (place where mezcal is made) and sampling the freshly distilled mezcal can be a fun activity for visitors. And tequila, though the most famous, is actually a type of mezcal, originally known as Mezcal de Tequila, named after the town in which it's made. Learn more about these traditional Mexican drinks.

_{Photo © 2006 Suzanne Barbezat, licensed to About}