Why doesnt tequila give me a hangover

Photo: Getty

Tequila has gotten a pretty bad rap over the years—developing a reputation for being both a frat party go-to and the ultimate cause of hangovers the world over. On Cinco de Mayo, which might as well be called Global Tequila Day, we’re here to tell you that if you drink the right kind of tequila—and drink it the right way—those pesky hangovers you can’t quite seem to forget from your shots-of-Cuervo college days will seem like a distant memory.

MORE: Can Tequila Help You Lose Weight?

Besides not being any more of a hangover causer than any other type of alcohol, professional barmen swear by drinking tequila because of its health benefits that include its ability to aid in digestion, fight cholesterol, ward off common colds. Yes, really.

Read on for five tips that’ll ensure you never get a tequila hangover again.

1. Drink quality tequila.
The first thing you want to look for on the bottle is that it’s made from 100% agave. In Mexico, only alcohol that’s made entirely from the blue Weber agave plants from the tequila region is actually considered tequila. In the U.S., things are a bit different. Alcohol can be called tequila if it contains as much as 49 percent of other liquids—usually sugar-based alcohols. Essentially, when you drink the low-grade stuff, you’re mixing alcohols, so it should be no wonder that the hangovers you’ve experienced have been so brutal.

2. Stay away from coloring and worms.
A surefire sign that you’re about to drink a low-quality tequila? If it’s colored, or if it contains a worm. Historically, people put worms in tequila to show that the contents were indeed alcohol, not water, but types containing a worm also inevitably include chemicals and additives. The same goes for colored tequila. “Gold” formulations are really just marketing—in other words, it’s actually just tequila enhanced with caramel coloring. Look for clear varieties only.

MORE: 8 Hangover Cures Celebrities Swear By

3. There’s a big difference between straight tequila and a tequila cocktail.
One of the reasons that in-the-know drinkers swear by drinking silver, 100% agave tequila is because of its low sugar content, which equals fewer hangovers. That goes out the window when you mix it into a cocktail—say a sugary margarita filled with triple sec and processed lime juice. That’s a one-way ticket to hangoverville.  Instead, sip it on the rocks with fresh limes and lots of ice.

4. Sip it, don’t chug it.
In the U.S., tequila is commonly consumed out of a shot glass, and chugged as quickly as possible, to avoid tasting it. If you’re drinking the good stuff, you won’t need to do that. Plus, sipping it slowly means you’ll inevitably drink less, which lowers your chance of waking up with a killer hangover.

5. Overdo it, and you’ll still suffer from a hangover.
Just like any type of alcohol, if you drink an entire bottle of tequila by yourself, there’s no way that you’re going to avoid that dreaded hangover—no ifs ands or butts. But that’s not the tequila’s fault, it’s yours.

Tequila hangovers are a funny beast. Sometimes, they can be the worst ever and in some cases not so bad at all.

You may have even heard some people say there are Tequilas that give no hangovers.

So, what’s the deal with Tequila hangovers, why are some worse than others and how do you get rid of them. That’s exactly what we’re going to take a closer look at today.

In this article, we aim to clear up some of the confusion around Tequila and hangovers. To do so, we’ll first go over the causes of a Tequila hangover before exploring why some Tequila hangovers are different.

We’ll then give a more detailed answer as to whether a “no hangover” Tequila exists or not.

Tequila hangover causes

Before we can get into why some Tequila hangovers are worse than others, we first need to go over how Tequila causes hangovers.

In simple terms, hangovers are caused by drinking too much alcohol, too quickly. Regardless of whether it’s Tequila or any other liquor. And there are a few different reasons why you wake up with a hangover:

1) Dehydration:

You probably know that drinking too much alcohol causes dehydration. That’s because it blocks a hormone called ADH from being released from your pituitary gland (in the brain).

This hormone is responsible for making your kidneys hold onto water. Therefore, blocking its release means your kidneys flush out extra fluid which consequently leads to dehydration.

2) Inflammation:

“Inflammation” is another major cause of hangovers. When alcohol is metabolized (broken down) in your liver, toxic by-products are formed such as acetaldehyde.

These by-products are highly reactive and wreak havoc on your insides. That’s why in normal circumstances, your liver quickly breaks them down further into harmless compounds.

However, during periods of overindulgence, this system is overrun. To put it simply, this leads to a build-up of acetaldehyde and other such by-products that react with your cells causing inflammation.(1)

3) Congeners:

Congeners are the name given to compounds in alcoholic drinks that give them distinctive taste and aromas. They are formed during the fermentation process that produces alcohol, as well as when alcohol is aged in barrels.

That means, drinks like red wine and whiskey have much higher amounts of congeners than gin or vodka. In fact, liquors like vodka are distilled and filtered to remove congeners.

The problem is that congeners make hangovers a lot worse because they are “biologically active”. This means that they, like acetaldehyde mentioned above, also react with your cells causing inflammation.

And studies have shown that drinks with higher congener concentrations give worse hangovers. This factor is important when understanding why some Tequila hangovers are worse than others which we will cover later on.(2)

4) Reduced sleep quality:

Alcohol blocks your brain from reaching the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. This is essential for feeling fully rested. That’s why sleeping eight hours after a few drinks never feels the same as if you’d slept with no alcohol in your system.

In summary: Tequila hangovers are caused by many different factors. All of which play a part in hangover symptoms.

Symptoms of a Tequila hangover

Tequila hangover symptoms are no different from any other hangover. In some cases, the symptoms might be more intense. But the general undertones are the same and include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Anxiety
• Body pain / Muscle aches
• Inability to concentrate

Do different types of Tequila cause different hangovers?

There are a lot of myths when it comes to Tequila and hangovers. Some people believe that certain types of Tequila give less severe hangovers. Whereas others believe that some Tequila gives no hangovers.

And there may be good reasons why this is.

But before we get into this, we first need to know what the different types of Tequila are.

Tequila is broadly categorized into three types.

1) Silver or Blanco Tequilas

Tequila at its most basic is often called a “Blanco” or silver Tequila. It’s usually bottled immediately after its final distillation. Typically, Blanco or silver Tequilas are clear in color.

They are most typically made solely from the blue agave plant and because they are the most basic form, they are also the least expensive of Tequilas. That means it makes them ideal for mixed drinks, such as margaritas.

2) Reposado Tequilas

Reposado literally translates to mean “restful”, or in this case, rested. And that is exactly the difference between Reposado and Blanco Tequilas, it’s been aged.

This tequila has been aged for at least two months, but can be up to a full year. This allows the flavor to mellow, taking on hints of oak, and turns the Tequila to a soft golden color.

3) Añejo Tequilas

Añejo Tequilas are aged for one to three years in oak barrels which is why they are known to have complex flavors. Añejo is considered a premium “sipping” Tequila.

So, when it comes to hangovers, which type of Tequila is the best?

It all comes down to the congener content we mentioned earlier. Drinks that are darker in color and have been aged will naturally contain more congeners.

That means Blanco Tequila should, in theory, give less of a hangover than Añejo Tequilas.

With that said, it obviously depends on how much of each you drink! Blanco Tequila can still give you the mother of all hangovers if you drink enough of it.

Tequila with no hangover: does it exist?

Whether it’s Blanco, 100% agave, patron, or George Clooney’s Tequila, every single type can give you a hangover.

So that means, a no Tequila hangover does not exist!

And you should be suspicious if anyone tries to convince you otherwise.

That’s because, at the end of the day, the main hangover causing agent in all Tequila is ethanol (alcohol). Some Tequilas may have more congeners than others and, therefore, give slightly different intensity hangovers.

However, that doesn’t mean a no “hangover Tequila” exists. If you drink enough of any type of Tequila, even the purest Blanco you can find, you’re guaranteed to wake up with a nasty hangover.

How long does a Tequila hangover last?

How long a Tequila hangover lasts depends entirely on your personal circumstances and sensitivity to hangovers. Everyone is different and some people don’t even get hangovers.

In addition, how much alcohol you drank plays a big part. In most cases, hangover symptoms last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day. For some of us, two-day hangovers are the norm.

The same goes for how much Tequila it takes to give you a hangover. Everyone is different and will experience hangovers from varying amounts of alcohol. You can find out more about this topic here: how long hangovers last.

How to get rid of a Tequila hangover

So, you’ve had a few too many shots last night and have woken up with a Tequila hangover. What now?

By this stage, there are really only a few things that will help. These include:

– Drink lots of water to rehydrate. Rehydration salts can help you rehydrate faster.– Sipping on some ginger tea if you’re feeling nauseous– Painkillers like Tylenol

– Sleep and rest