Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation

Aguamiel is the sap extracted from various species of maguey (<i>Agave</i> spp.). This liquid is highly prized in central Mexico for its pleasing sensory qualities and nutritional value. Understanding the composition of aguamiel is crucial as it may offer beneficial effects for human hea...

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Main Authors: Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez, Libier Meza-Espinoza, María de Lourdes García-Magaña, Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto, Martina Alejandra Chacón-López, Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza, Efigenia Montalvo-González
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/134
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author Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez
Libier Meza-Espinoza
María de Lourdes García-Magaña
Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto
Martina Alejandra Chacón-López
Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza
Efigenia Montalvo-González
author_facet Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez
Libier Meza-Espinoza
María de Lourdes García-Magaña
Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto
Martina Alejandra Chacón-López
Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza
Efigenia Montalvo-González
author_sort Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez
collection DOAJ
description Aguamiel is the sap extracted from various species of maguey (<i>Agave</i> spp.). This liquid is highly prized in central Mexico for its pleasing sensory qualities and nutritional value. Understanding the composition of aguamiel is crucial as it may offer beneficial effects for human health. Reports have indicated its significance as a source of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fructooligosaccharides with prebiotic potential. Additionally, aguamiel can harbor diverse microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria (<i>Lactococcus</i> and <i>Leuconostoc</i> spp.) and yeasts, contributing antioxidant, nutritional, prebiotic, and probiotic properties. However, aguamiel is prone to rapid fermentation due to its nature, which can alter its sensory and nutritional characteristics. This review provides insight into the broad nutritional composition, microbial diversity, and metabolites beneficial to the human health of fresh aguamiel. At the same time, it reviews the technologies applied to aguamiel to preserve its nutritional properties and functional metabolites and extend its shelf life. Thus, the data included in this document may lead to greater beverage consumption and further research to find new conservation alternatives that change its organoleptic and functional properties as little as possible.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Foods
spelling doaj-art-4edbeb3873a742c384a38cc73558da8b2025-01-10T13:17:53ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114113410.3390/foods14010134Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and ConservationAlma Delia Noriega-Juárez0Libier Meza-Espinoza1María de Lourdes García-Magaña2Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto3Martina Alejandra Chacón-López4Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza5Efigenia Montalvo-González6Laboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Nayarit, MexicoDirección de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Tecnológica de la Costa, Santiago Ixcuintla 63300, Nayarit, MexicoLaboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Nayarit, MexicoLaboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Nayarit, MexicoLaboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Nayarit, MexicoCentro de Estudios para la Agricultura, la Alimentación y la Crisis Climática, Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Jalisco, MexicoLaboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Nayarit, MexicoAguamiel is the sap extracted from various species of maguey (<i>Agave</i> spp.). This liquid is highly prized in central Mexico for its pleasing sensory qualities and nutritional value. Understanding the composition of aguamiel is crucial as it may offer beneficial effects for human health. Reports have indicated its significance as a source of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fructooligosaccharides with prebiotic potential. Additionally, aguamiel can harbor diverse microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria (<i>Lactococcus</i> and <i>Leuconostoc</i> spp.) and yeasts, contributing antioxidant, nutritional, prebiotic, and probiotic properties. However, aguamiel is prone to rapid fermentation due to its nature, which can alter its sensory and nutritional characteristics. This review provides insight into the broad nutritional composition, microbial diversity, and metabolites beneficial to the human health of fresh aguamiel. At the same time, it reviews the technologies applied to aguamiel to preserve its nutritional properties and functional metabolites and extend its shelf life. Thus, the data included in this document may lead to greater beverage consumption and further research to find new conservation alternatives that change its organoleptic and functional properties as little as possible.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/134aguamielnutrientsprebioticmicroorganismsshelf life
spellingShingle Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez
Libier Meza-Espinoza
María de Lourdes García-Magaña
Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto
Martina Alejandra Chacón-López
Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza
Efigenia Montalvo-González
Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
Foods
aguamiel
nutrients
prebiotic
microorganisms
shelf life
title Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
title_full Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
title_fullStr Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
title_full_unstemmed Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
title_short Aguamiel, a Traditional Mexican Beverage: A Review of Its Nutritional Composition, Health Effects and Conservation
title_sort aguamiel a traditional mexican beverage a review of its nutritional composition health effects and conservation
topic aguamiel
nutrients
prebiotic
microorganisms
shelf life
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/134
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