There is a misconception that tequila is an ordinary cactus vodka, which is supposed to be drunk from glasses with edges previously sprinkled with salt. In fact, tequila has little in common with vodka, however, as well as with cactus.
Tequila is made from a tropical plant called agave. Fermented agave juice was a popular drink among the Aztecs - they called it pulque. Tequila is also called a strong drink, which was once received by the Spanish conquistadors, overtaking pulque. The industrial production of tequila began at the end of the eighteenth century, and the drink got its name due to the fact that it was in the Mexican province of Tequila that an enterprising landowner lived, who became the first supplier of this strong drink. Today tequila is known far beyond the borders of Mexico and is often served in nightclubs, bars and restaurants. In principle, you can drink tequila by simply eating a lemon wedge. At the same time, it is not necessary to use salt at all - the sour taste of lemon perfectly complements the strong and pungent taste of tequila. It is not customary to eat tequila with anything other than salt and lemon - and not only because of established traditions, but also because its taste can hardly be called one that can be harmoniously combined with any appetizer we are used to.
Some parties practice a more exotic and spectacular way of drinking tequila called "step by step". It consists in the fact that the drink itself is poured into the navel of a naked girl, and paths of salt are poured onto her stomach. It is believed that the favorite pastime of men is to drink tequila in this way on cold winter nights. In this case, it is quite possible to drink tequila even without the traditional lemon wedge - they say that the sensations are already fantastic.
