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Sotol (The Real "Texas Tea")
The Spaniards learned the art of making sotol from the Indians and with the Spaniards' skills the distillation process was added. The original sotol is at 96 proof and was utilized by the Indians in their religious ceremonies, for food, and for medicinal purposes.
The sotol plant (sotol is Spanish for
"dessert spoon"), a large, striking plant is commonly found in the
Hill Country as well as the eastern Trans-Pecos region of the state
of Texas. Sotol forms a rosette of attractive evergreen leaves with
numerous greenish-white flowers borne on a spike 8-15' tall,
followed by 3-winged BB shaped seeds. The Sotol's narrow leaves are
3-5' long, lined with forward curving teeth. Leaves are
deer-resistant but budded flower stalks can be at risk.
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Sotol
is a distilled spirit made from the Dasylirion wheeleri (commonly
known as Desert Spoon or, in Spanish, sotol), a plant that
grows in the wilds of Northern Mexico and West Texas. It is known as
the state drink of Chihuahua. There are few commercial examples
available. It is produced in a manner similar to the more common
artisanal mezcals of central Mexico.
