Which five Mexican states contain the protected tequila denomination-of-origin area?

The protected tequila denomination-of-origin area covers parts of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.

Jalisco is the central tequila-producing state and contains the town of Tequila, but the legal production area is larger than Jalisco alone. Specific municipalities in the other four states may also qualify, provided producers follow Mexico’s tequila standards.

This arrangement reflects the official geographic definition of tequila. Agave spirits made in other Mexican regions may be traditional and high quality, but they are generally sold under different names, such as mezcal, because they fall outside tequila’s protected territory or use different legal requirements.

The list is easy to confuse with Mexico’s many other agave-producing states. The denomination covers selected municipalities, not necessarily every part of all five states.