We all love a fiesta, but global appreciation of tequila has spurred a shortage of agave, the plant that is the source of the golden spirit. Less pure agave means less pure tequila, which affects the quality of your margarita and impacts the environment too.

Like authentic bubbly from the Champagne region of France, real tequila (i.e. government-certified) comes from just five states in Mexico. When you purchase tequila from states like Jalisco, you're protecting biodiversity (mass production of tequila has forced scientists to come up with creative cross-pollination strategies) and supporting small farmers, while ensuring that you're shooting the real stuff, not a concoction of agave juice and sugar.

Does Jose Cuervo make the cut? To find a bottle that does, look for the NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) - a registration number given only to approved tequila distillers. The ladies behind IdealBite recommend Sauza Tres Generaciones Anejo and Herradura Blanco, two eco-aware companies from Jalisco that currently developing methods of turning production waste into bioplastics and alternative energy. Me gusta mucho.

[via Ideal Bite]

Image: University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point