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WHAT IS AGAVE AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT?

Agave - pronounced ah-gah-vay - is the plant from which tequila is made.It has also been used for thousands of years as an ingredient in food. 

The nectar made from the plant is known in Mexico as aguamiel, or 'honey water.'

The Aztecs prised agave as a gift from the gods and used the liquid from its core to flavor foods and drinks.

It has also seen a rise as the sweetener of choice for the health conscious, due to its claimed benefits over sugar - although some experts debate these benefits.

That include its higher sweetness than sugar, meaning less is needed to sweeten foods.

The plant is also known as the century plant, because it is thought to flower only once every 100 years.

However, this is misleading as it usually flowers after 20 to 30 years of storing enormous food reserves in its leaves and then dies. 

Originally from Mexico, agave now grows across the world in similar growth conditions - a sunny and dry climate, and well-drained soil.

Agave is pollinated by insects, nectar-loving bats and hummingbirds. 

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