Let’s do a little word association – I say “Agave,” you probably say “Tequila,” right? Well, apparently there are a number of awesome ways that the agave plant is being utilized. Agave is a perennial, flowering plant native to Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. and is a key ingredient in tequila.
The José Cuervo Foundation has been championing some really cool initiatives to explore the diverse uses of agave to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability.The remnant fibers that are left following the plant’s roasting, grinding, and juice extraction (the juice is then used for making tequila) can be recycled in a multitude of ways. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, and everybody’s favorite Mexican spirit, tequila, let’s check out some of the uses of the amazing agave plant.
Surfboards
José Cuervo enlisted the help of renowned surfboard shaper, Gary Linden, to help create the first agave surfboard. He made two prototypes – both he built the core out of with agave stalk. The first board, he then covered with agave pulp. Then they used some leaves that had been cooked, so they were soft, and pounded them on to make a deck patch.
The second board, Gary used agave paper to seal off the board. A press was used with sugar cane from brazil for making juice, and that juice was used as a resin substitute to bond the paper to the core.
Guitars
Cuervo partnered with Fender’s Master Builder Pall Waller and Gary Linden to create the first agave Stratocaster, dubbed the “Cuervo X Fender Agave Stratocaster.”
The agave plant material is extremely soft, and presented Waller with a unique challenge in shaping the guitar. Crafting it took Paul over 30 hours, and it took Gary five days to harvest the agave stalk and complete the sealing of the instrument.
The two-piece ’56 Stratocaster features a pure agave body, 21-fret neck and fingerboard, all-genuine Fender hardware, a custom-engraved neck plate with a Jose Cuervo inscription, a hand-wound Fat ’50s neck, and RWRP middle and bridge pickups.
Car Parts
The José Cuervo Foundation back at it again, this time with Ford Motor Company. They partnered to use agave fibers to produce a sustainable bioplastic that could be used to create a fuse box, cup holders, an other storage bins. Pretty neat.
This is what the raw fiber looks like as it’s about to be processed.
Paper
In Tequila, Mexico, José Cuervo has been making paper from the pulp of the roasted heart of the agave plant.
Soap
Using the juice from the agave plant, blue agave soap will hydrate your skin and having you smelling fresh.
Shoes
They’re not exactly high performance, but they can make a tremendous difference for those in need of footwear.
Be sure to check out more of the wonderful work the José Cuervo Foundation does HERE.
And watch the video below to see the Cuervo x Fender Agave Stratocaster come to life.
¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
