Espadín (Agave Angustifolia var)
Although the species of Agave angustifolia commonly known as Espadín is now widespread in Oaxaca, it is not actually endemic to the state. While some claim that Espadín was introduced to Oaxaca as early as the 1930’s, most references date its arrival several decades later when government programs and Matatlán-based industry began to promote its cultivation. Because Espadín yields well, reproduces easily (through seed, rhizomes, and bulbils) and matures more quickly than other high yielding agaves, it is prized as a cash crop and is planted widely across Oaxaca. Because of Espadín’s ubiquity, the spirits made from this species serve as an excellent lens for understanding the different terrains and production methods of Oaxaca. Where we are in Miahuatlán, farmers co-plant rows of Espadín alongside food crops: corn, beans, and squash. This crop-growing system called “milpa agriculture” is part of an ancient tradition that produces both healthy, nutritious plants and living soils without the use of chemical fertilizers.