Welcome to Madre

You may be wondering why I’ve mentioned mezcal a few times over the past couple of months.

No, I haven’t replaced it for water, but I do have some exciting news.

The reason I’ve been so excited about sharing this one spirit in particular is, in fact, personal.

Over the past 11 years that I’ve been blogging, I’ve shared many a post recommending this particular MCT oil, my favorite source for raw, sprouted walnuts or that amazing type of little packets of coconut oil that make keeping Paleo-Keto on the go, oh so easy.

So while it may seem like a different type of product suggestion at first blush, here’s why you’re now reading a very special post about a very special product to me: it’s a project my husband has curated over the past two years with a few other friends and it’s an incredibly special product in its own right.

It all starts with a story.

For over a century, the Garcia Morales Family has been lovingly, carefully and most importantly, traditionally harvesting wild agave on their own small palenque in Oaxaca, in the in dusty rolling hills of San Dionisio in order to produce the recipe that has been shared from generation to generation.

Why is this so special and why would I tie it into my healthy living blog?

Because there are more things in common between what I teach and what this is all about than you might initially think.

Let’s start with the most obvious question of all: why would I be writing about any alcohol on this platform?

Because I believe in balance.

Over the years, I’ve written many times about how there’s got to be room for a piece of decadent dark chocolate, shared recipes for special occasion desserts and confessed that one not so authentic Paleo that I partake in each and every day is to indulge in my morning doppio espresso.

Right on par with having a balance would include having a drink, if one so desires to include it into their own personalized regime.

Next, let’s look at the farm to table aspect, and tradition.

This family runs their palenque which is operated by hand pulled donkey & millstone. This is not manufacturing. This is nothing other than each and every batch being hand-crafted with soul. And it shows in the taste, believe me.

Also very important to factor in to the equation is the argument that this drink is unsustainable and potentially even harmful to the environment.

After all, it takes at least seven years for the wild agave to grow.

Here’s where supporting madre gets even better: for each and every wild agave which is harvested, more are planted to replace what’s taken, helping to restore and grow the population of this wild plant.

Sustainable?

Absolutely.

Finally, how does it fit into a healthy, authentic Paleo regime?

It won’t surprise you in the least to learn it’s low in sugar and low on the glycemic index, because for years, we’ve been reading about how tequila is the ‘most Paleo drink to consume’.

Tequila is a type of mezcal, much like how scotch and bourbon are types of whiskey (1). A single measure of mezcal contains 130 calories and no sugar (2). Since its flavor on its own is so enjoyable, you wouldn’t want to mix it into a sugary margarita anyway.

On the tasting side, Madre is 70% espadin & 30% cuisine which is wild, giving Madre its lightly smoky taste with a soft botanical edge which gives it a pleasant tongue & mouth feel.

There’s also the spiritual, ritualistic angle; this drink with a rich heritage has been consumed for centuries at celebrations of all types throughout Mexico.

One of the most commonly asked questions I receive is how to address social situations and what’s the most suitable drink to have while on a Paleo regime, so I know without a doubt there are folks out there, including athletes, just like me, who enjoy a drink at times.

There’s always a neat potato vodka or gin, but give this beautiful mezcal a try and support the people behind the story… not just a fun night out.

You can check out Madre here: https://www.madremezcal.com/

Or follow them @madremezcal

(1) http://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/differences-between-tequila-mezcal
(2) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/generic-mezcal-629441122