Agave harvesting is tricky business. First of all, they take at least 8 years to mature. Second, if you harvest them too early you're gonna wind up with a bitter batch. Harvest them too late then the Tequila will be too sweet. Perfecting the process is the job of the jimador (HE-mah-door).
Jimador tending to the blue agave
The jimador is the master farmer who tends, picks and harvests the Agave plants to ensure that they are of the highest quality and harvested at precisely the right time. They tend the fields, select which plants are mature, slice off the leaves to expose the piña - which is then cooked, fermented and distilled to produce Tequila.
Getting to the heart of the agave
Want to know more about Jimadors? Check out Lalo's - Tequila Connoisseur Corner.
