A critical review on the assessment of the quality and authenticity of Tequila by different analytical techniques: Recent advances and perspectives

Abstract

Currently, the authenticity and traceability of Tequila are determined in an inspection process carried out by the Tequila Regulatory Council. However, in recent years, the authorities have seized illegal alcoholic products that are marketed as Tequila without being so, making it necessary to strengthen the current methods of detecting counterfeiting and/or adulteration. Therefore, it is important to establish a review of the current analytical techniques that have been proposed to solve this problem. In this review, emphasis is placed on the analysis of the analytical techniques that have been used to consolidate a profile of authenticity and quality in Tequila, thus highlighting new auxiliary analytical techniques to the current verification process, establishing future validation opportunities in terms of international quality control. The use of isotopic ratios stands out as the most robust technique because it establishes the type of sugar source used and the maturation time of the manufacturing process.

Keywords: Analytical techniques; Authenticity; Inorganic tracers; Organic tracers; Tequila; Traceability.