Agave tecta

Trel.

Pulque agave

AsparagaceaeFlowersPotential hazards — see below

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Carlos Jiménez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carlos Jiménez

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Carlos Jiménez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Stalks ?, Flowers ?, Caution

The flowering stems are cooked and their juice extracted, fermented, and distilled into alcoholic beverages. The plant is used to make pulque, a milk-coloured, somewhat viscous, alcoholic beverage that produces a light foam. It is made by fermenting the sap of certain types of Agave plants. About six species of Agave are considered best for use in producing pulque. Plants take around 12 years from seed before they start to produce their flowering stem - this is then cut out to leave a depressed surface 30 - 45cm in diameter in the centre of the plant in which the sap collects. This liquid is harvested twice a day from the plant, with yields of up to 5 - 6 litres per day, and the plant can continue producing for up to one year before dying. Total yields can reach 600 litres from good plants. The sap can be drunk without fermenting it, though most is used for fermentaton.

Known Hazards

Many Agave species have strong, sharp spines on the leaves and leaf tips. In theory at least, the flowers, nectar, immature flowering stem and the centre of the rosette of all Agave species is edible and, with proper preparation, can provide a sweet, tasty foodstuff. Some species, however, contain relatively high levels of saponins (which makes them taste bitter) and some other compounds which can cause bellyache, and so these would only be eaten in times of desperation. In addition, many people may find these foods to be strongly laxative the first few times they eat them.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It suits seasonally dry climates.

Guatemala,

Countries: Guatemala

How to Identify

An agave in the Asparagaceae family suited to tropical, seasonally dry climates. It can be propagated from stem cuttings or bulbils.

How to Grow

It can be grown by cuttings of the stem or bulbils.

Propagation: Seed - surface sow in a container in a light position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15 - 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 10cm tall before planting out. Offsets and suckers can be potted up at any time they are available. Bulbils, where produced, are an easy method of propagation. Simply pot them up and plant out at the beginning of a growing season when they are 10cm or more tall.

Other Uses

Fibres obtained from the leaves can be used for making rope. The roots contain saponins and can be used as a soap substitute. Widely grown in Guatemala as a stock-proof hedge.

References (1)

World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew