Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Can you propagate agave plants from cutting off small ones growing around parent plant and putting in ground

yes you can ..you must do it in stages to allow minimal shock to plants did around base of parent plant and see if suckling has own roots if so cut and remove wet. more info message me mad_mcgoo@yahoo.com


Does Agave Nectar sweetener taste anything like sugar cane?

I've been wanting to try this sweetener cause I'm trying to get away from the harmful mainstream sweeteners that we use in the U.S.A.





Does it taste like honey or sugar cane?

Does Agave Nectar sweetener taste anything like sugar cane?
It tastes somewhat like it. It has a little bit of a tang that sugar doesnt.


How do you make tequila? Can you make it easily after planting the agave?

Get agave, ferment it, distill the fermentation.

How do you make tequila? Can you make it easily after planting the agave?
Tequila is made from the blue agave plant, which is a member of the lily family. The blue agave has spiny broad leaves called pencas. Early Indians used the agave spines as sweing needles, made paper from its leaves, and used the agave's juices for medicinal purposed.





Tequila has become synonymous with the culture and heritage of Mexico. Much like Champagne and Cognac are indigenous to France, tequila is identified by the geographic region from which it originates.





Harvesting


It takes up to 8 - 12 years for a blue agave plant to mature. Jimadors, the workers who harvest agaves, are experts in blue agave cultivation. The jimadors use tools such as a coa (a steel-tipped hoe) to unroot the blue agave plant from the unique lava red soil, and a machete to cut the spiny leaves from the body of the plant to reveal a large pineapple-shaped heart called pina. The pinas, weigh upwards of 150 pounds, are then shipped to a distillery to begin the quila-making process.





Selection


Most tequila producers contract with area farmers and buy agaves in the spot market. Agaves grown outside the distillery undergo a rigorous process that ensures the maturity, weight and quality of these in as meet the high standards of the distilleries. If rejected, the agaves may then returned to either the commissioned farmers or the spot market.


(Picture on the right: Tequila producers at Jose Cuervo)





Cooking


The pinas, which are comprised of pure starch, are steamed in stone ovens for about 24 - 36 hours at tempretures reaching 80 - 95 degree Celsius. A raw pina has a pale yellow colour and is virtually odorless. In comparison, a cooked pina possesses a brown-orange colour and emits a sweet, candy-like scent. Cooked pinas are then crushed in three pressing mills in order to extract the agave juice. Agave fibers tend to reabsorb much of the juice, so the fibers are washed in order to obtain the optimal amount of juice from each press. The result of the wash is called aguamiel or honey water.





Fermentation


The aguamiel (honey water) is combined with select yeasts and placed in a vat to ferment, resulting in a veriety of by-products that include alcohol and methanol. The fermentation process is dependent upon climate. A cooler climate can lengthen the processing time to up to 12 days whereas a warmer climate can shorten the time from two to five days.





Aging


According to Mexican law, distilled tequila must be aed in oak barrels. The youngest blanco (white) tequilas, must be aged for 14 - 21 days, and oro (gold) tequilas are aged up to two months, Reposado (rested) tequilas are aged up to one year and the oldes tequilas, anejos (aged), are aged for at least one year. Unlike other spirits, tequila aging process ia maximized after roughly 6 - 10 years.








While several species of the agave plant can be fermented and distilled to make alcoholic beverages, only the Abave azul tequilana weber, commonly called the Agave azul or blue agave, can be used to make tequila. Due to a unique combination of altitude, soil conditions, humidity, annual rainfall, average temperature and exposure to the sun, southwest Mexico is the only known place in the world where Abave azul (or blue agave) rows naturally.





Tequila is made by cutting away the spiny leaves from the body of the plant to reveal a large pineapple-shaped heart called pina, which can weigh up to 150 pounds. The inas are backed in stone ovens and then placed in a crushing mill. The crushed fibers are repeatedly washed in order to extract the plants' sugar. The result is called aguamiel or honey water. This honey water is then fermented with select yeart, and later double-distilled to make tequila.
Reply:you make it from the roots of the agave, and it needs to grow some years from the time you plant it before you can dig it up and destroy a beautiful planting to make rotgut!!


Can agave plants be purchased in Ohio or are they only found out west?

Certainly Agave can be bought in Ohio. It will be sold primarily as an indoor houseplant. Various independent and box-store garden centers will carry them, from time-to-time.





I don't always recommend catalogues... but this one carries quite a selection of Agave's, some of which are cold-hardy to USDA hardiness zone 6! Parts of Ohio are definitely zone 6, you'll have to consult a hardiness zone map to find out whether you are or aren't.





www.plantdelights.com





I hope that this helps


Good luck

Can agave plants be purchased in Ohio or are they only found out west?
You might not be able to find them in nurseries there, but you can definitely find them on eBay. You should be able to get a small plant for only a few dollars plus the shipping.
Reply:I've been told only in Mexico
Reply:Agave americana(century plant) Bloom's once after 15-50 yr's then die's. Can't survive in weather below 40degree's.Found in west,not sold in east because of plant life.Grow 2-5' accross.Flower yellow,if you ever see one.Good luck me i'd grow rose's.

Beauty Home

Is agave syrup/nectar really healthier than regular sugar?

Is it sweeter? And where do you buy it in the US?

Is agave syrup/nectar really healthier than regular sugar?
you can buy it anywhere, i can imagine. at least, my mom buys it at Whole Foods. look in Tom Thumb, as well.





it's great. as someone who has low blood sugar tendencies it doesn't make me feel shaky. i think it is sweeter, but i'm not sure. it's good!


I have just been given an Agave plant?

in a pot. Can this be left out all year?( I live in London) or will it die in the cold?

I have just been given an Agave plant?
ACCORDING TO THE TYPE/ SOME ARE COLD HARDY IN YOUR AREA, BUT THEY DONT LIKE RAIN, SO LONDOM ALTHOUGH WARM ENOUGH, PROBABLY IS TOO RAINNY FOR AN AGAVE
Reply:make tequila!!
Reply:It is too wet outside in Londo, your Agave plant will rot.





Keep it inside and water it lightly, only occasionally. ...remember it is a desert plant.


Are honey and maple syrup healthy alternatives to regualr granulated sugar and what is agave nectar?

I want to cut out all white granulated sugar from my diet but I do love sweets and pastries so I'm looking for some healthy sweeteners to be able to add to my baking recipes instead of sugar.

Are honey and maple syrup healthy alternatives to regualr granulated sugar and what is agave nectar?
Maple syrup may vary somewhat in complexity, but more or less comprises sugar-water. Worse yet, some syrups contain additives like caramel coloring.





Honey, consisting of a mix of fructose and glucose, is more or less a form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Also, some honies contain residual acaricides.





Yet honey, perhaps a lesser evil, does have advantages over sugar, maple syrup and HFCS. Honey's antimicrobial properties may fight against cavities. Also, eating honey from a local bee farm may alleviate allergy symptoms.





Beware also of many artificial sweeteners.
Reply:Honey is...maple syrup...it would depend if it were real or just corn syrup with maple flavoring. read your labels. Corn syrup is just as bad as processed white sugar.





www.honey.com will have some info on how to substitute honey for sugar in recipes.





You can also buy granulated raw sugar (not to be confused with brown sugar...although it is indeed brown, lol.). It still has the molasses in it. It will change the flavor of your baked goods a little bit, but I rather enjoy the taste. Not recommended for pure chocolate stuff though...its a little funky.





here is the brand I use and find at my grocery store:


http://www.sugarintheraw.com/





Also molasses, but it will give the food a different flavor.





Most organic foods use unprocessed sugar.





Be careful. There is processed sugar and corn syrup in places you wouldn't think about. Spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, etc.


Where can you buy blue agave plants?

Hmmmmmmm.TEQUILA!!!!!!!!


Live Blue Agave plants in two sizes. The "small" Agave plants are about 6-inces tall. The "large" Agaves are approximately 18-inches tall.


One Small Plant $8.00


Three Small Plants $20.00


One Large Plant $18.00


Three Large Plants $45.00

Where can you buy blue agave plants?
home depot and lowes has them
Reply:Hawaii?


No! Mexico! Mexico!

augmon

Where can I buy Agave Nectar and/or sticks in Australia/Melbourne?

I want to try it as a sugar substitute in tea and coffee.

Where can I buy Agave Nectar and/or sticks in Australia/Melbourne?
you can buy Agave Nectar in Australia online at:





www.maretai.com





they will ship it for free





hope this helps.


T.
Reply:usually you can find agave in natural heath food stores and like maple syrup the dark amber agave is richer than the light agave. The light agave is good to use in drinks and the darker is better to use in baking. Also you may want to look into another sweeter like yacon syrup


Where can I buy agave stalks?

I have some art projects that I need agave stalks for. They can be cut into 2 foot pieces for easy shipping.

Where can I buy agave stalks?
I imagine you can buy them in Mexico, in Jalisco state, where most production of tequila takes place. Tequila comes from the agave plant.


Perhaps also in Baja California or even somewhere in California on this side of the border...


Planting a blue agave cactus?

I bought a good sized blue agave today for $80 and have never had one before. I understand they dont need much water, since i'm in humid Houston TX, only to water once a month. How about planting them? I understand I need to put it on a high spot to allow the water to drain off, and put rock underneath it and around it for drainage? Any other advice? What about fertilizer? I couldn't find much info on the web for these things.

Planting a blue agave cactus?
Must be a big Agave for $80. They don't need much water after they are established, new roots begin to grow into the soil, so it would be best not to let this big plant dry out to much. Especially if you are lacking in rain this summer, the main thing an Agave will do is scorch in the hot sun when they are newly planted, so make sure the soil is moist for at least a month. These are slow growing plants, so it will take alittle while for the roots to start attaching themselves to the new soil around it. Fertilize it with a 10-5-10, once a month until fall. Water in the mornings and water deep to the roots. Do not put rock under the plant if you are planting it in the ground or pot, it is not needed, Agave's can grow in pretty bad soil, they are native to Mexico, I would try to use the same soil as Mexico has. I guess you know Tequila is made with the Agave plant. Give your plant plenty of space to grow and don't plant it where there


is a lot of people traffic. The common name for the Agave is Century plant, after it blooms it dies, but it takes a long time to bloom, if you have any pups[baby plants] grow from the mother plant, you can take them off and plant them too. Hope I helped you alittle.


Agave nectar receipes succeses stories?

I want to experiment with agave nectar as I have a friend who is diabetic and we have been reading about the properties of this sweet extract. I am interested to learn from people who have tried using this as a substitute for refined sugar in cooking, what has worked and what hasnt for you?

Agave nectar receipes succeses stories?
Go to this website to find out about it,


http://www.volcanicnectar.com/agavenecta...


Good luck.

php hosting

Is it possible to make agave nectar?

I wanna make the stuff, not buy it. Since it comes from a plant that grows in mexico, theoretically I could grow the plant here in Spain, then make the nectar.


Is it possible?

Is it possible to make agave nectar?
Possible, but certainly not an obvious cottage industry. Agave nectar (or agave syrup) is a concentrate of filtered, hydrolised agave juice, mechanically pressed from a number of species of agave. I'm inclined to think that by the time you would have got your equipment and facilities together, it could turn into very expensive agave nectar indeed... :-/





All the best.
Reply:It would be my guess that you could make it the same way as you would make Aloe juice.





Agave takes years to grow...tequila is made from the cactus after it reaches about 13 years of age.





My hubby is from tequila country (jalisco mexico)..I will ask him and revise my answer once he wakes up, so check back for updates, please!


What are plants or foods that are rich in Calcium Oxalate except watercress and agave?

What are plants or foods that are rich in Calcium Oxalate except watercress and agave?





Thanks in advance ^^

What are plants or foods that are rich in Calcium Oxalate except watercress and agave?
Total oxalate (mg / 100 g)


Bread 4.9 - 8.6


Potatoes 15.5


Spinach 320-1260


Carrot 11


Cocoa powder 623


Coffee 57


Tea 375- 1450
Reply:broccoli, turnip greens, kale, dairy products, cheese, sardines in oil, canned salmon, eggs, corn bread, calcium-fortified (bread, cereals, fruit juices, etc.)





The recommended daily intake of calcium for adults is 1000mg per day. The average American adult is only getting 600 mg from their food. It is very hard to get enough calcium from our foods. Some people need a supplement.


Check and see how much calcium you are getting from your foods.
Reply:rhubarb sorrell spinach





rhubarb leaves are poisonous because of the concentration of oxalates
Reply:Rhubarb. The leaves have so much oxalic acid that they can be poisinous.


Do you use agave syrup in your cooking?

Do you use agave syrup in your cooking or do you just use it to sweeten drinks and cereals?

Do you use agave syrup in your cooking?
I've made cactus jelly and syrup with it (for pancakes, scones, biscuits %26amp; waffles). I got lots of compliments. It comes out a pretty red color.


No, I've never used it to sweeten drinks or cereal. But, I do drink it in all of my Margaritas (minus the syrup part, naturally)! :)
Reply:Ceviche Lima Peru





2 kg Red Snapper


10 limes 10 lemons (Juice of)


1 Very large red onion


2-3 cloves of garlic


1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp white pepper


1/2 tsp cumin


1/4 Cup celery chopped


1/2 Cup fresh coriander Report It

Reply:thanks and have a great week Report It



Can you use agave nectar just as you would honey in recipes, etc?

I have a few recipes that call for honey (mainly oatmeal cookies, apple muffins, etc.). Can I use Agave Nectar in its place?

Can you use agave nectar just as you would honey in recipes, etc?
Agave is new to us too. We've been using it instead of honey in tea and such and it's fine.





I just made oatmeal cookies and replaced the honey with agave using the same amount. They had a tinge of a bitter aftertaste so next time I'll likely use 1/2 honey and 1/2 agave until we are more used to it.





I also want to try date sugar and molasses.





One thing we learned the hard way - agave pours out very quickly because it's more liquid than honey so watch that. : )





Good luck and enjoy!

arenas

Can I use agave nectar instead of corn syrup in this recipe?

This is the recipe I'm interested in making:


http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/v...





I want to make it healthier and already have some agave nectar, would that work in place of the corn syrup in a recipe like this? Thanks.

Can I use agave nectar instead of corn syrup in this recipe?
it shoudl work just fine.


nectars, honeys and syrups are all invert sugars (they are monosaccharides, instead of disaccharides)


so they're interchangeable.


and i read that agave is more viscous than honey, so the consistancy shouldn't change at all on ya :)





!Alexiis
Reply:yes sure. They are interchangeable and the consistency is similar so nothing will be affected in the result.
Reply:I don't see why not. Just reduce the agave nectar slightly as it is sweeter than corn syrup and I am sure your Caramel Corn Clusters will turn out well. Good luck!


Does anyone use agave nectar to sweeten foods?

I am really unfamiliar with this sweetener, but am interested in alternatives to turbinado sugar. How versatile is agave? Can you cook or bake with it, or just use it in liquids?

Does anyone use agave nectar to sweeten foods?
You can definitely bake with Agave nectar, however, because it is sweeter than honey and a little less viscous, you have to adjust the recipe accordingly. You wouldn't want to use as much agave as you would honey in most recipes. Just experiment with your favorite old stand-bys, you'll figure it out soon.
Reply:I, too am curious to hear of any other uses than liquids--It's great in tea, but I haven't baked with it... :)
Reply:Use it as you would honey.





I prefer honey - but that is my own personal choice.....





You can use it in the same way that one would use honey in any recipe or in coffee/tea - any other drink that you might put something sweet in.
Reply:Garde A, DARK agave nectar (excellent fructose, high level of minerals, strong rich flavour, sweet)





Grade A, LIGHT agave nectar (excellent fructose, good level of minerals, medium strength flavour, sweet)





More info here:





http://www.raw-pleasure.com.au/component...





My hubby has started to use it in his coffee instead of sugar.





.
Reply:I have used it for sweetening my tea, I think it's great. You only need one spoonful for a great tasting tea. Also nice on pancakes.
Reply:yes i love it, - I bake all my foods with it. At first I had hard time understanding hwo much i should use, but then i got the hang of it!





i feel sugar is to sicky! its like all lardy fatty!





but agave is all fresh and nice! and easy to use!


Is there any way I can substitude agave or powdered stevia instead of sugar in a baking recipe?

My mom will not eat sugar at all. that makes it hard for me because i love to bake sweets. right now i want to make a pumkin pie. is there anyway i can substitude agave or stevia(the only sweetners she allows) instead of sugar in the recipe.

Is there any way I can substitude agave or powdered stevia instead of sugar in a baking recipe?
yes, check this, it has the equivalents, I was not able to paste it ...





http://www.stevia.com/stevia-sugarEquiva...





Equivalencies are approximate. Adjust to your taste. Too much Stevia may taste bitter. When substituting Stevia for sugar in your own recipes you may have to adjust for the bulk. Try adding applesauce, apple butter or plain yogurt.
Reply:You will have to adjust the recipe as stevia can not be used one to one to sugar.
Reply:I am using agave in my bread machine right now for the first time. I was hesitant to do it, since it's expensive if it doesn't work out. The bottle did say to use less, since it's sweeter than sugar, but I'm worried the yeast won't have anything to grow with.