Century plant, Mahuey, Mescal
Agave asperrima

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

The plant is a thick rosette of thick, fleshy leaves. They are 45-65 cm long. There are spines along the edges. There is a long strong spine at the end of each leaf. At flowering a long flower stalk is produced in the centre of the leaves. This is 10-15 cm across and grows 4-7 m long. In the top one third of this stout stems grow. These are 0.5-1 m long and have an end that turns upwards with a cluster of yellow tube shaped flowers.

There are about 250 Agave species. The Agavaceae are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It grows mostly in the Chichuahuan desert in Texas. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The sap is used to produce 3 alcoholic drinks - pulque, mescal and tequila. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The sap is collected and used as a drink. The flower stalk is baked in a pit oven. The sap is also fermented into an alcoholic drink. The sap is is boiled and thickened into a syrup.

Edible parts

Heart - drink, sap, stems

How it is grown

It may take 12-15 years before flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Agave asperrima subsp. asperrima; Agave asperrima var. asperrima; Agave caeciliana A. Berger; Agave scabra Salm-Dyck [Illegitimate]; Agave wislizeni Engelm.;