InsideHook

Who thought it was a good idea to put a gusano into mezcal?

First, it’s not really a worm. It’s more of a grub or a larva — you know, the thing that turns into a moth. It’s usually a red one, though sometimes you’ll see the white ones in mezcal. I could tell you the red one is of the species comadia redtenbacheri and that the white worm, which is the one commonly found feeding off the agave plant, is aegiale hesperiaris. But really…the red one and the white one.

Why do they put the gusano in mezcal?

In Mexico, the gusano can be considered a delicacy when prepared properly.

Can gusano spice up other drinks?

Why, yes! Agave can yield both distilled and fermented drinks. Spirits like mezcal and tequila are made by fermenting the cooked hearts of the agave. But if you don’t want to go to the trouble of cooking the plant, you can just carve a huge hole into its center and harvest fresh, sweet sap. That sap will ferment into delicious pulque.