India’s "Blue Gold" Fuels Emerging Agave-Based Drinks Industry

A growing number of farmers in India are turning to agave cultivation, transforming what was once viewed as a wild cactus into a potentially lucrative agricultural business.

Agave has evolved from an unwanted weed into an additional income stream, earning the nickname “blue gold.”

In parts of southern India, farmers are harvesting agave americana, a desert plant related to the varieties used in Mexico’s tequila and mezcal industries. For farmers like Masapalli Venkatesh, agave has evolved from an unwanted weed into an additional income stream, earning the nickname “blue gold.”

Unlike Mexico, where agave is commercially cultivated on large plantations, India’s emerging industry relies heavily on plants growing naturally in the wild.

Harvesting agave requires skilled timing because the plant’s sugar content — essential for alcohol production — rapidly diminishes once flowering begins.

Entrepreneurs and distilleries are increasingly exploring whether India could establish its own agave-based beverage industry amid rising global demand.