Madre Cuishe
100% Wild Madre Cuishe (Agave Karwinskii) Madre Cuishe is said to be the mother of the cuishe varietals, and has an average maturity of 9-12 years depending on where it is harvested in the Zoquitlan region of the Sierra Sur, Oaxaca. Karwinskiis are very tough and fibrous agaves with low sugar content. Madre Cuishe has a leaf structure that is low to the ground, almost to the point of touching the ground. It also has a trunk that is barrel shaped and thicker than a Cuishe. Contrary to popular belief, Madre (Mother) Cuishe is not the “Mother of Cuishe”.
It’s name originates from the fact that Madre Cuishe were often planted side by side to create natural fencing, due to its short, narrow leaf structure that runs all the way to the ground. Just like a mother protects her babies, this agave was commonly used as natural fencing to protect crops from predators. On average, Madre Cuishe yields 800 – 1000 liters of mezcal from 12 tons of cooked Agave Karwinskii (~36% lower yield than Espadin). *An interesting fact is that due to Madre Cuishe’s barrel shaped trunks, it is commonly called “Barril Blanco” in communities such as Santa Catarina Minas.
