What is tequila made from?

Tequila, a type of mezcal spirit, traditionally made in Mexico, is made from the blue agave plant (agave azul). The piña, or core of the agave plant is typically steamed in a horno, a large oven. The core of an agave plant can weigh up to 300lbs making it difficult to harvest, transport, and cook.  The cores are typically harvested at a smaller size, between 50-120lbs.  The traditional ovens are quite large to accommodate several piñas at once, and are often made of clay or stone.

There are several types of agave that are grown in different regions of Mexico and used for different types of Mezcal, but blue agave is the standard for tequila.