Tequila · Explainer
What is additive-free tequila?
Additive-free tequila is tequila to which none of the four permitted additives has been added: caramel colouring, natural oak or encino extract, glycerine and sugar syrup. The Mexican standard allows them together up to at most 1 percent of the weight and does not require them to be stated on the label. Additive-free is therefore not a legal term, but a claim by the producer or by an independent programme.
In brief
The key figures
| Permitted processing aids | Caramel colouring, natural oak or encino extract, glycerine, sugar syrup |
|---|---|
| Maximum | Together at most 1 percent of the total weight |
| Labelling requirement | The standard does not require these additives to be stated |
| Sugars | At most 75 grams of total reducing sugars per litre |
| Dry extract | At most 85 grams per liter |
| Standard | NOM-006-SCFI-2012 |
| Supervision | Consejo Regulador del Tequila |
| Independent verification | Programme of Tequila Matchmaker, set up in 2020 |
Which additives may tequila contain?
The standard names four abocantes: caramel colouring, natural oak or encino extract, glycerine and sugar syrup.
Together they may make up at most 1 percent of the total weight. In addition, limits apply to the composition: at most 75 grams of total reducing sugars per liter and at most 85 grams of dry extract per liter. In the trade these substances are called mellowing agents, because they adjust color, mouthfeel and sweetness.
Why are additives not on the label?
The Mexican standard does not require abocantes to be declared as long as their share stays within 1 percent of the weight.
The front of the label must by law show the category, the class, the alcohol content and the brand name. Processing aids are not covered by this. Anyone who wants to know whether a bottle contains them has to rely on the producer or on an independent check.
Who checks whether a tequila is additive-free?
An independent verification programme visits distilleries, compares distillates with the final product and looks at laboratory and purchasing documents.
The programme was set up in 2020 by the makers of the Tequila Matchmaker app. Trade magazine VinePair described the working method and named 186 verified products, with dozens of applications pending. The outcome is in a public register. The designation additive free has no legal status.
Does the color of a tequila say anything about its aging?
Caramel colouring is permitted as abocante, so the colour alone says little about how long a tequila has spent on wood.
The class says more. Reposado means at least two months in wood, añejo at least a year in casks of no more than 600 litres, and extra añejo at least three years. A blanco has had little or no contact with wood.
Why is there discussion about additives in tequila?
According to Forbes, today's additives are much more powerful than those of twenty years ago, while the 1 percent limit remained the same.
As a result, a small share can do more for colour, sweetness and mouthfeel than was intended when the rule was drafted. The Mexican standard dates from 2012. That is why buyers ask for openness and why distilleries have themselves voluntarily inspected.
What do you ask for in the shop if you are looking for additive-free?
Ask about the producer and the NOM number on the bottle, because additive-free is not a legal designation on the label.
Met dat nummer is te achterhalen in welke distilleerderij de tequila is gemaakt. Wij kijken graag met u mee in de gegevens van de producent en in het openbare verificatieregister. Aan mensen onder de 18 jaar verkopen wij geen alcohol; NIX18.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which blanco tequilas and mezcals are there in Bathmen?
The shop in Bathmen stocks 13 blancos from 12 different brands. Prices range from € 23.99 to € 87.99. The alcohol percentage ranges from 38% to 40%.
- Casamigos Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Cazadores Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Cazcabel Tequila Blanco 38% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Don Julio Tequila Blanco 38% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Kah Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- KAH Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- La7Vidas Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Lajita Mezcal Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Lunazul Tequila Blanco 40% · 70 cl · Mexico
- Rooster Rojo Blanco 38% · 70 cl · Mexico
Related questions
What is cristalino tequila?What is the difference between blanco, reposado and añejo tequila?What is the difference between mezcal, sotol, raicilla and bacanora?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- Is additive-free a legal term?
- No. The Mexican standard does not know the term; it comes from producers and from an independent verification programme.
- Does one hundred percent agave also mean additive-free?
- No. Even with one hundred percent agave the four abocantes are permitted up to a total of 1 percent of the weight.
- Can a blanco contain additives?
- Yes. The standard makes no distinction between the classes on this point.
- How much sugar is allowed in tequila?
- At most 75 grams of total reducing sugars per litre, with at most 85 grams of dry extract per litre.
The reasoning
Sources
- NOM-006-SCFI-2012, Bebidas alcohólicas, Tequila, Especificaciones, Consejo Regulador del Tequila (accessed 2026-09-06)
- A Disruptive Transparency Initiative Is Shining Light on Tequila Additives, VinePair (accessed 6 September 2026)
- How Do You Tell If Your Tequila Has Additives?, Forbes (accessed 2026-09-06)
- Estadísticas van de tequilasector, Consejo Regulador del Tequila (accessed 2026-09-06)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine and spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 7 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.