Sustainability

Wild agave is a delicate and limited resource, and we need to take action to protect it and keep a balanced environment.

As part of our first sustainability effort, we are replanting one endemic agave in Oaxaca per bottle sold of our Batch 03.

This first action is done in collaboration with our longtime partner Maestro Enrique Hernández Zenea. At the end of this cycle, when plants reach maturity, we will divide the crop with Maestro Enrique and use our share to produce our first farmed Tobalá.

Reforestation Project #01 [Batch 03]

The current crops (3000 plants) are located in San Juan Guelavía, Oaxaca, and are composed entirely of Tobalá (a. potatorum).

The soil composition

The composition of the terrain is rich in minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, chlorine, etc.). All these elements are reflected in the color of the land (red soil).

The plants

The plants are germinated from seeds of mother plants selected mainly for their size—the ones with the largest pineapples and leaves are considered to have the best genetics. The plants are registered with the Consejo Regulador del Mezcal after one year of planting.

The distance between one plant and another varies depending on the type of agave. In the case of Tobalá, a minimum of 80 cm and a maximum of 120 cm (2.6-4 ft) is left because its leaves don’t expand much on the sides.

Care & Maintenance

The first type of care that must be taken into account is to keep the plant free of weeds, so that it develops in optimal conditions. Running a tractor between the furrows, and/or planting alternative crops such as corn, beans, chickpeas, etc. also helps to this end. Our plants are cleaned manually one by one.

For pests, foliar care is recommended and we apply it up to 3 years before harvest. It is a preventive measure only. It is worth mentioning that it is very difficult to have a 100% organic crop because of pests such as the weevil that would end the crops if preventive measures are not taken.

The land is mainly cleared of weeds, which is done up to three times a year: before, during, and after the rainy season to make sure there are no weeds. Caring for the plants employs about 5 people per week.

With this care, a Tobalá plant is estimated to take a minimum of 6 years to reach maturity.

OAX Arroqueño — 1 year old Tobalá plant, ready to be planted.

Keep posted for more, we are just starting.

Photos and information courtesy of Maestro Enrique Hernández Zenea.