One of the hundreds of trends in the world of drinks right now is the zero-proof, nonalcoholic cocktail. Which is what we used to call an iced tea north of the border and an agua fresca south of the border. And, yeah, I recognize that it’s not simply that. But it’s also that … and more! We talk Mexican terroir, traditional herbs, and delicious liquid flavors in this week’s episode of Agave Road Trip!

This episode is sponsored in part by SACRED, a not-for-profit that helps improve lives in the rural Mexican communities where heritage agave spirits are made. Since obtaining our official not-for-profit status from the IRS in 2017, SACRED has gifted more than 32,000 tobala agave seedlings to families in rural Oaxaca – families whose cultural heritage is at risk as access to agave is getting harder and harder, due to the global explosion of interest in mezcal. Even as we continue to expand this program, we’ve also recently helped to launch a program that will build out three greenhouses in rural Jalisco, to help protect four at-risk varieties of agave and four at-risk varieties of trees, while at the same time preventing these rare wild lands in Jalisco from becoming more blue weber farms. To learn about these and other programs visit sacred.mx . If you love heritage agave spirits, consider helping us protect that cultural heritage with a tax-deductible donation this holiday season.

Hey, Chicago! There’s a gallery show going on that you won’t want to miss. It’s called “Agave!,” and it features artwork made primarily from agave fibers left over from mezcaleros in Oaxaca. I say primarily because there’s also a musical instrument that looks something like a didgeridoo but made from the heart and quiote of a madrecuishe. Buy that and record a version of our theme song with it, and we’ll feature it on this podcast! Agave! will be on display in the Chase Gallery at the Epiphany Center for the Arts from now until April 9. And every First Thursday, a different agave spirits company will be on hand to sample out some of the liquid agave art that we love so much. For details, visit epiphanychi.com. Hope to bump into you there!

Agave Road Trip is an award-winning podcast that helps gringx bartenders better understand agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico. It’s hosted by Lou Bank and Chava Periban. 

Episode notes

To find recipes for different aguas fresca, just do an Internet search. If you’re too lazy to do that, click here.

Billy Corgan’s tea house is call Madame ZuZu’s Emporium. It’s delightful. So is the Rare Tea Cellar.

Rachael Toth is the genius who puts together tasting kits made up of herbs and roots and other elements from the communities where she buys agave spirits, creating, in essence, terroir kits. But she doesn’t sell them. Yet. Sign up to be notified when she does!

Those 35 “tea” kits I talked about in the episode? If — and only if — you are a gringx bartender, can sign up for yours by sending an email to me. Include your mailing address. Only the first 35 will get a kit. International is cool here, ‘cause no alcohol.