How do you know when an agave is ripe?

Question

I want to try to make my own tequila, and i have done a lot of reading on it but cant find what i need to know. I know that you need to harvest the agave just before it blooms, and i know that they are to bloom quite soon so i want to know how to identify a ripe agave before it blooms. I have heard something about a dry stalk? What is this and is there any other advice you can offer me?

Answer 1

Tequila is made from the blue agave, not the agave americana.  It can take up to twelve years to grow one plant.  The blue agave grows best in the heat of Mexico.

The stalk you are refering to is the 20' tall flower stalk.  After the plant blooms the agave dies and the stalk falls over.

I love tequila but would never attempt to make tequila from the century plant in my front yard.  The process alone is tedious and expensive.

Answer 2

the variety of agave you want is the Agave americana also known as the centry plant. the plant produces this giant flower stock that is about 25-30 feet tall. Thats the thing you make tequilla out of. I think you have the wrong Agave. Also it takes 20-50 years for the flower stalk to come out normally ending its life.