Charanda, Mezcal and Tequila
Michoacán has regions where these drinks are produced in an artisanal way that are increasingly in demand.
Morelia, Michoacán. The state of Michoacán is known for the production of charanda, tequila, and mezcal, drinks that already have the Denomination of Origin. The charanda, produced in the Uruapan region, obtained certification in 2018.
Mezcal with a certificate of designation of origin is currently produced in 20 municipalities of the entity, with the particularity that from region to region the flavor of the spirit drink changes, so a mezcal produced in the surroundings of Morelia is not the same as one of the limits with Guerrero.
And give me charanda to toast”
Charanda, is a traditional drink obtained from the fermentation and distillation of sugar cane. Cane juice or its derivatives such as honey, brown sugar, or molasses are used for its elaboration; its amber color is due to the oak or oak barrels in which this distillate rests. Although the most traditional form is the white charanda, with a piece of cane in the bottle.
What differentiates this distillate from other similar ones is the greater amount of sugar, sucrose, and iron, which gives it a sweeter taste, as well as being more aromatic.
The origin of the charanda is in Uruapan, after obtaining its Denomination of Origin certification in 2018, the region is recognized as a center of origin and identity. In addition, this drink is produced in other Michoacan municipalities, such as Ario, Cotija, Gabriel Zamora, Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, Nuevo Urecho, Peribán, Los Reyes, Salvador Escalante, Tacámbaro, TancĂtaro, TangancĂcuaro, Taretan, Tocumbo, Turicato, Uruapan and ZiracuarĂ©tiro.
“Que sirvan las copas, copitas de mezcal”
Along with tequila, mezcal is one of the most representative distillates in Mexico, but few know that Michoacán is a producer of excellent quality mezcal. This tradition has approximately 400 years in the entity, which is why in 2012, Michoacán obtained the Denomination of Origin certification.
The main difference between the Michoacan mezcal and that of other entities is in the type of maguey, since in the region the agave cupreata, the alto, manso de Sahuayo and the espadĂn are grown, which provides different flavors.
In the state, about 14 municipalities are dedicated to the production of the ancestral drink, among the Michoacan mezcalerĂas are La Surtidora, Remedio, El Carajo or Palomas Mensaras, where it is possible to find from white, reposado and aged mezcal, to mezcal flavored with fruit.
The word “mezcal” is a word derived from the Nahuatl “mexcali”, which means “cooked maguey” or “cooked maguey stalks”. It is a drink that is born as a result of the fermentation of this plant.
In Michoacán, many years ago, they started with very small productions, so much so that they only produced 2 to 3 times a year. Until recently, thanks to high demand, these numbers skyrocketed and therefore more municipalities were fully involved in the production of mezcal.
The difference between Michoacan mezcal and that of states like Oaxaca, Guerrero, Durango, to name a few, are their types of magueys.
However, previously this drink could not be called mezcal officially or legally. It was known as brandy, but we all knew that it was this exquisite drink.
“Y beber en un jarrito un tequila con limón”
Last but not least, the drink by the Mexico is world famous: tequila. It is little known that this distillate is also produced in Michoacán.
The Michoacan municipalities that can be seen as tequila producers are Briseñas, Chavinda, Chilchota, Churintzio, Cotija, Ecuandureo, Jacona, Jiquilpan, MaravatĂo, Nuevo Parangaricutiro, Numarán, Pajacuarán, Peribán, La Piedad, RĂ©gules, Los Reyes, Sahuayo, TangamancĂdapio, TangamancĂdapio, TangamancĂdapio, TangancĂcuaro, Tanhuato, TingĂĽindĂn, Tocumbo, Venustiano Carranza, Villamar, Vistahermosa, YurĂ©cuaro, Zamora and Zináparo.
Tequila, along with mezcal, is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in Mexico, and its price will depend on the quality, so much so that the most expensive bottle of tequila in the world is valued at $ 3.5 million. The liquor is of excellent quality, since it has been aged for seven years and was distilled at Hacienda La Capilla, in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco.
The Official Mexican Standard (NOM-006-SCFI-2012) defines this product as a regional alcoholic beverage obtained by distillation of musts, prepared directly and originally from the extracted material, in the factory facilities of an authorized producer, which must be located in the territory included in the declaration of Denomination of Origin.
The musts must be derived from the heads of Agave tequilana weber in its blue variety, previously or later hydrolyzed or cooked and subjected to alcoholic fermentation with yeasts, cultivated or not, the musts being susceptible to being enriched and mixed together in the formulation with others sugars up to a proportion not greater than 49 percent of total reducing sugars expressed in mass units, in the terms established by this NOM and with the understanding that cold mixtures are not allowed. Tequila is a liquid that, according to its class, is colorless or colored when it is matured or when it is doomed without maturing.
The name “tequila” was adopted from the region that gave rise to it approximately 200 years ago.
Article 156 of the Intellectual Property Law states that the Denomination of Origin is the name of a geographical region of the country that serves to designate a product originating in that place and whose quality or characteristics are exclusively due to the geographical environment, including in this the natural and human factors.
This definition requires that it be produced in a defined geographical area, that it has the declaration, that is, that it has a proven recognition or reputation of the geographical place and that there are the precise conditions of production.
The decisive factors in a Denomination of Origin are the climate, which implies light intensity, hours / light, rainfall, temperature and relative humidity; soil texture and chemistry; the plant species that, in the case of tequila, the plant used is the Agave Tequilana Weber blue variety, which is an endemic species and, therefore, adapted to weather and soil conditions; human activities, which are the human labors involved from the cultivation of the agave, its harvest, production and maturation of tequila. These activities can include technique, craft traditions, and skills.
On December 9, 1974, the resolution of the then Ministry of Industry and Commerce was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, granting protection to the Designation of Origin tequila.
On September 20, 1976, Tequilera la Gonzaleña, SA, requested the Inventions and Trademarks Directorate of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to expand the territory that includes the Tequila Denomination of Origin to include the municipalities of Altamira, Aldama, Antiguo and Nuevo Morelos, GĂłmez FarĂas, Llera, Ocampo, XicotĂ©ncatl and González, from the state of Tamaulipas, given that the agaves grown in Tamaulipas meet the quality requirements established by the standard.
The main territory of origin of tequila is the state of Jalisco, but in Guanajuato tequila is also produced in the municipalities of Abasolo, Ciudad Manuel Doblado Cuerámaro, HuanĂmaro, PĂ©njamo and PurĂsima del RincĂłn.
In Nayarit, the Denomination of Origin is held by Ahuacatlán, Amatlán de Cañas, Ixtlán, Jala, Jalisco, San Pedro de Lagunillas, Santa MarĂa del Oro and Tepic.
Tamaulipas includes the municipalities of Aldama, Altamira, Antiguo de Morelos, Gómez Farias, González, Llera, Mante, Nuevo Morelos, Ocampo, Tula and Xicoténcatl.
Source: lavozdemichoacan.com.mx