A combination of high demand and worsening shortage of agave has many tequila producers worried.
The agave plant, a blue-tinged, spikey-leaved succulent used to make tequila, has risen six fold in price over two years.
Mature agave plants take seven to eight years to fully grow which has forced farmers to pull younger plants.
Only 17.7 million blue agave were planted in 2011, far short of the 42 million needed to supply 140 registered tequila producers.
Shortages are expected to continue until 2021, while planting strategies improve.
