This fabulous sweetener is derived from the agave plant, a cousin of the American aloe. It is a succulent plant that looks much like a large cactus. Agave is grown primarily in Mexico but it is starting to be cultivated in other arid climates like southern California and Arizona.
The juice from this plant has been used for centuries to make tequila, which is a distillate made by fermenting the pineapple-like core of the plant. More recently, people have begun using agave nectar as a sweetener for teas, coffee, cereals, and nearly everything else where one might use sugar or honey.
Agave nectar is made by concentrating the juice of the agave plant and then lightly pasteurizing it to ensure that it is free of yeasts and other microorganisms. It undergoes minimal processing to ensure that it meets the requirements to be certified organic.