LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE A FEW TREASURES OF THE MODERN WORLD WHILE WE STILL CAN.
TEQUILA
There’s so much many don’t know about the heart of Mexico’s tequila country, and it’s time we face the facts. Did you know that it takes about 5-12 years for an agave plant to turn into tequila? Aside from environmental conditions, blue agave plants are prone to disease and research estimate losses range in the millions of plants, threatening its supply. Moreover, farmers are flipping their fields for corn, beans and other fast-growing food crops where business is much more lucrative. This explains the drop in production of agave production by 35% in 2007. If you’re like me, you’re going to want to keep a few of the best tequilas ever made around.
WINE
I’m still struggling to accept this one. There are more than 2.8 billion cases produced each year, but it’s not enough to meet the high demand for vino, especially with the rise in consumption by millennials. Combine that with the continued decline of vineyard acreage year after year, and extreme climate conditions impacting harvest. So remember, every sip is meant to be savored, and it wouldn’t hurt to stock up on your favorites.
CHOCOLATE
It takes an average of five years to grow a new crop of cocoa trees, which can only be grown 10 degrees of the equator…damn. With over 90% of production of cocoa beans in West Africa, requiring hard labor, chocolate is heading its way to become a pricey luxury much like caviar.
VODKA
Just kidding, ya’ll. We’re actually in the clear on this one but not everyone is so lucky. May 9, 1945 was the infamous day the Nazi surrendered to the Soviet Union. To celebrate, they partied so hard and within 22 hours, they faced a new crisis…they ran out of vodka. Go hard or go home, right?
What great choices to choose from.