Editing Mezcal (section)

==Mezcal agave==
[[File:Agave angustifolia- plants near Yagul Oaxaca.jpg|thumb|''Agave angustifolia'' (espadín)]]
The ''[[Agave]]'' genus is a member of the  [[Agavoideae]] subfamily of the [[Asparagaceae]] plant family (formerly included in the now defunct [[Agavaceae]] family) which has almost 200 species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kubota |first1=Shosei |last2=Konno |first2=Itaru |last3=Kanno |first3=Akira |date=February 2012 |title=Molecular phylogeny of the genus Asparagus (Asparagaceae) explains interspecific crossability between the garden asparagus (A. officinalis) and other Asparagus species |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21947345/#:~:text=The%20genus%20Asparagus%20comprises%20approximately,from%20that%20of%20hermaphroditic%20species. |journal=Theoretical and Applied Genetics |volume=124 |issue=2 |pages=345–354 |doi=10.1007/s00122-011-1709-2 |issn=1432-2242 |pmid=21947345}}</ref> There are more than 120 [[list of Agave species|species of agave]].<ref name="univision">{{cite web |first=Erich |last=Lagasse |title=Mezcal: típico afrodisíaco mexicano |url=http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=5355 |publisher=Univision |language=es |trans-title=Mezcal:Typical Mexican Afrodisiac |access-date=19 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329122640/http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=5355 |archive-date=29 March 2010 }}</ref> The mezcal agave has very large, thick leaves with points at the ends. When it is mature, it forms a "piña" or heart in the center from which juice is extracted to convert into mezcal. It takes between seven and fifteen years for the plant to mature, depending on the species and whether it is cultivated or wild.<ref name="taibo">{{cite web |first=Paco Ignacio |last=Taibo |title=Misterio y magia del mezcal |url=http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/notas/230-Misterio-y-magia-del-mezcal |publisher=Mexico Desconocido |location=Mexico City |language=es |trans-title=Mystery and magic of mezcal |access-date=9 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329072911/http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/notas/230-Misterio-y-magia-del-mezcal |archive-date=29 March 2010 }}</ref> Agave fields are a common sight in the semi-desert areas of Oaxaca state and other parts of Mexico.<ref name="municipio"/>

=== Varieties ===
Mezcal is made from over 30 agave species, varieties, and subvarieties, in contrast with tequila, which is made only with [[blue agave]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Mezcal PhD|title=Tequila vs. Mezcal|url=https://mezcalphd.com/2018/11/tequila-vs-mezcal/|access-date=13 December 2020|website=mezcalphd.com|date=25 November 2018 }}</ref> Of many agave species that can be used to make mezcal, seven are particularly notable.<ref name="mx082"/> There is no exhaustive list, as the regulations allow any agaves, provided that they are not used as the primary material in other governmental Denominations of Origin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McEvoy |first1=John |title=How Many Agave Varieties Can Be Used To Make Mezcal? |url=https://mezcalphd.com/2012/05/how-many-agave-varieties-can-be-used-to-make-mezcal/ |website=Mezcal PhD |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> The term ''silvestre'' "wild" is sometimes found, but simply means that the agaves are wild (foraged, not cultivated); it is not a separate variety.

Most commonly used is ''espadín'' "[[smallsword]]" (''[[Agave angustifolia]]'' ([[Adrian Hardy Haworth|Haw.]]), var. ''espadín''),<ref name="mx082"/> the predominant agave in Oaxaca.<ref name=":0" /> The next most important are ''arroqueño'' (''[[Agave americana]]'' (L.) var. ''oaxacensis'', sub-variety arroqueño),<ref name="arroqueno">{{cite web |url=http://mezcalphd.com/2014/09/arroqueno-travels/ |title=Arroqueño Travels….|date=18 September 2014 }}</ref> ''cirial'' (''[[Agave karwinskii]]'' (Zucc.)), ''barril'' (''[[Agave rodacantha]]'' (Zucc.) var. ''barril''), ''mexicano'' (''[[Agave macroacantha]]'' or ''[[Agave rhodacantha]]'' var. ''mexicano'', also called ''dobadaan''){{efn|Dobadaan is an old colloquial term for ''mexicano'', popularized by Jonathan Barbeiri, founder of Pierde Almas.<ref name="marcanegra">{{cite web |url=http://mezcalphd.com/2015/02/mezcal-marca-negra-good-things-are-happening/ |title=Mezcal Marca Negra: Good Things Are Happening|date=7 February 2015 }}</ref>}} and ''cincoañero'' (''[[Agave canatala]]'' Roxb). The most famous wild agave is ''tobalá'' (''[[Agave potatorum]]'' (Zucc.)).<ref name="mx082"/><ref>"En México existen al menos 7 especies de agave cultivadas y silvestres que son utilizadas para la producción de mezcal. Entre los agaves mezcaleros destacan el “espadín” (''Agave angustifolia'' Haw.), que es el más cultivado y utilizado para la fabricación del mezcal. En orden de importancia le siguen el “arroqueño” (''Agave americana'' L.), el “cirial” (''Agave karwinskii'' Zucc.) y el agave “barril” (''Agave rodacantha'' Zucc.), el “mexicano” (''Agave macrocantha'') y el maguey “cincoañero” (''Agave canatala'' Roxb). Entre los más famosos y apreciados agaves silvestres por la calidad del mezcal que se obtiene está el “tobala” (''Agave potatorum'' Zucc.)."</ref> Others include ''madrecuixe'', ''tepeztate'', ''jabalí'', and ''bicuixe''.<ref name="marcanegra"/>