When did tequila first appear? History of tequila. Among the legends that explain the origins of this drink, there is one that says that tequila was discovered during a thunderstorm, when lightning struck a crop of agaves and because of its intensity, caused a fire.

Who started making tequila?

The exact history of tequila started with the people of the Aztec, who made a fermented beverage from the agave plant. They called this beverage the Octli (which later came to be called Pulque). All this occurred way before the Spaniards arrived in the 1500s.

Why is tequila called tequila?

The word means means (depending on the authority) "the place of harvesting plants," "the place of wild herbs," "place where they cut," "the place of work" or even "the place of tricks." According to Jose Maria Muria, tequila comes form the Nahuatl words tequitl (work, duty, job or task) and tlan (place).