PRODUCCIÓN Y COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE LICORES DE SOTOL (Dasylirion cedrosanum Trel.) EN DURANGO, MÉXICO

Abstract

Facing the need to perform economic studies of forest exploitation is important in Mexico, the kind of information to assess and elaborate investment projects that involve species with industrial use must be known. This is specially important for sorne dry land Mexican species such as Dasylirion cedrosanum or "sotol", as it is a highly appreciated resource that satisfies diverse demands. At present it is considered a national priority species, among other reasons, due to the protection of the origin naming of the liquor that it produces in the states of Durango, Chihuahua and Coahuila. In 1998, a study was made in the Torrecillas "ejido" that belongs to the municipio of Cuencame in the state of Durango, with the aim to describe and analize the sotol industrialization schemes to produce wine-water. lnterview techniques were used with producers and burners, as well as bimonthly visits to the production units. 30% of the vegetation can be cropped, a practice that is regularly made all year long, in a deficient way. Plants come from different parts; each one weighs from 12 to 15 kg. Results describe the mechanism followed to extract the resource, as well as its transformation through a very simple industrial process as well as the commercialization of the product; prices according to the quality of the liquor are included as well as their distribution market.