Why You Should Be Using Bug Salt With Your Mezcal

It may seem that kosher salt or sugar are the best types of rims for the beloved margarita, but they’re not the most authentic. In Mexico, sippers use bug salt to liven up their libations, especially those made with mezcal. The most common of these salts is made from larva which is found amongst agave plants.

“The salt of ‘chinicuil’ or worm salt, is one of the products that distinguishes Mexico from the rest of the world. Only in Mexico can we find a product like this, an original pre-Hispanic recipe and 100 percent Oaxacan. It is a product with a unique flavor that enhances the flavor of food and gives it a unique aromatic depth,” says Eduardo Quiroga, chief sommelier at Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Riveria Maya, Mexico.

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There are two types of larvae that you can find in agave—red worm and white worm, explains Quiroga. The red worms live in the root and heart of the agave plant while the white larvae are in the leaves.

Related Reading: What Is the Difference Between Tequila and Mezcal?

The red worm larvae add a load of essences of the maguey (agave) plant and help bring the spirit a layer of sweetness and fat that makes it intrusive when tasting a vintage mezcal. According to Quiroga, the white larvae have a more significant contribution of minerality and subtle aromas of fresh grass.

“The ancestral tradition and the consideration of these ingredients as part of a festive and religious meal makes this authentic,” he says. “Experiencing these insects in an appropriate way allows us to enter a fascinating and mystical world, the complexity of sensations, and to live with a part of what was a Mexico unknown to the world and now offered as it is in a rainbow of exquisite flavors.”

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#BarFaithBottleTalk: @GranMitla sal de gusano…aka worm salt. Disclaimer: I never thought I'd brave up to buy a jar of worm salt, but once I tried it at a mezcal tasting, I was hooked and all doubts went out the window. So if I can do it…youcantoo. Sal de gusano is a traditional spice from Oaxaca (the heart of the mezcal world) that's commonly consumed scattered onto orange wedges while sipping on mezcal. It can be used as a palate cleanser between tastings, or just as a complement to the intense flavors of a smoky mezcal. The salt is also used in traditional cuisine and food dishes in Oaxaca and is made by grinding up toasted gusano (the larvae of the agave moth that lives on agave plants), and combining it with salt and chilies. The larvae (aka caterpillar) spends its entire life eating only the agave plant and hence the natural flavors pair particularly well with distilled agave. The end result is smoky, earthy, and adds unbelievable depth and umami. I don't think I can enjoy mezcal without some of this on hand again. This jar is from Amazon for anyone who's interested! — [archived in #BarFaithAgaves] . #BarFaith #BarFaithWormSalt #gusano #wormsalt #saldegusano #mezcal #tequila #agave #mixology #mezcaleria #mezcalcocktails #oaxaca #worms #spices #foodies #ingredients #cocktailgram #agavelove #themoreyouknow

A post shared by Faith (@barfaith) on Nov 26, 2018 at 7:37pm PST

While Quiroga says that the worm larvae salt is preferred and the most widely used, he said that other types of insects are also used to create salts that are spread atop fruits, as well as used in the creation of elaborate dishes.

Related Reading: Tequila Alternatives: Other Mexican Spirits You Should Try

“Grasshoppers and Chicata ants are the most precious, although there are some more exotic ingredients such as the alacrán [scorpion] and the rattlesnake,” he says.

So try it with your next round of tequila or mezcal, or for rimming your Cinco de Mayo margarita!

Related Video: Try Edible Insects at This Authentic Mexican Restaurant

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