Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Connoisseur and tequila don't work in the same sentence Did it have a worm in the bottle?
From Travelyucatan.com:
THE WORM [GUSANO]
There is no worm in Mexican-bottled tequila.
There is however a worm in American-bottled tequila.
We have encountered two explanations for the worm:
It is only a marketing ploy and not a Mexican tradition.
It is a test to ensure the ratio of alcohol is sufficient. If there is enough alcohol in the bottle the worm is supposed to die.
Apparently the worm gimmick was initiated in the 40's to booster Mexcal sales. The myth that came to be synonymous with the worm is that you get a psychedelic high after ingesting the dead worm. I have even spoken to individuals who swear they got high from the worm however I simply have to question their judgment since they drank the tequila to get to the worm so their experience is somewhat skewed.
There are two types of gusano in mezcal:
gusano rojo - the red [considered superior because it lives in the root and heart of the maguey]
gusano de oro - white/gold [which lives on the leaves and is less-prized]
The larvae from both types of gusano are commonly eaten as food.