Is Tequila the New Kombucha?

Margaritas might not be a superfood, but the Soul Cycle tribe seems pretty convinced that tequila counts as a wellness drink.

Tales of health-minded tipplers abound, from accounts of celiac sufferers sipping the gluten-free spirit at happy hour to non-wheat-sensitive folks who just feel better on it.

“In my old age, for some reason, it is harder to process beer and wine,” said a 41-year-old Brooklyn-based director. “The word on the street was that tequila was less invasive. I stick with the blanco and I’m fine.” A Venice, California-based psychologist and Ashtanga yoga devotee is another convert: “I’d been a strict vodka drinker for years because I wanted to cut calories,” she said. “Now I feel like I’m taking a vacation, a year abroad with tequila. My understanding is that blanco or silver tequilas are the way to go— they’re cleanest and don’t give you a hangover.”

Blanco tequila is the purest type of 100 percent agave tequila — more pure than aged agave tequilas like reposados, or mixed tequilas that include other types of sugars, like mixtos. “Blanco or silver tequilas are the healthiest because the darker aged tequilas are often aged in barrels used for other types of alcohols,” explains Chris Chen, licensed acupuncturist and owner of the Simple Broth Bone Company.


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