Dear Sir,
In Dale Quinn’s article “Distillers eye new mega market as China opens doors to tequila”(GR August 31-September 6, 2013), second paragraph, “While only a trace, the methanol content in tequilas ……..exceeded regulation levels for Chinese imports.”
I’m not sure I understand that sentence, but am certain one does not want to drink methanol. From Google: “ Methanol should never be ingested, in haled or come in contact with your skin. Even a small dose, less than half a teaspoon, can cause blindness and less than four ounces is consistently fatal.” Maybe he meant ethanol?
Arthur Martens
Writer’s response:
Distilled spirits contain both ethanol and methanol. Dangerous liquors, made without any regulation, contain more methanol than ethanol. Tequila made from 100 percent blue agave has only a small fraction of methanol—well below dangerous levels — but higher than Chinese import regulations allowed.
--Dale Quinn