PWhen an agave plant reaches the proper age its immature floral
stem is removed to form a lesion in the form of a circular cavity in the
central portion of the plant intowhich the plant excretes and stores nectar.
Nectar collection is commonly done approximately every 12 h. After
nectar collection, the cavity walls are scraped with a sharp tool to remove
approximately 0.5-cm wall thickness and stimulate nectar secretion.
Commonly, the cavity's external portion is covered with pieces of
agave leaf or a large stone. Immediately after scraping, the plant begins
excreting nectar and can produce up to 5 l in a twelve-hour period. Nectar
fermentation begins at a very slow rate in the collection cavitywhere
native microorganisms such as ethanol-producing bacteria, lactic acid
bacteria, yeasts and exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria are present
(Cervantes-Contreras and Pedroza, 2008; Escalante et al., 2004;
Sánchez-Marroquín, 1967; Sánchez-Marroquín et al., 1967). Upon
collection, nectar is placed in containers kept at 16–30 °C and inoculated
with an amount of pulque known as a “seed”. This seed pulque is
selected by producers from pulque that generally has been fermented
for 48–72 h and has very specific traits. It contains themainmicroorganisms
required for nectar fermentation and pulque production.