Originally Posted by CDSmith

This is what I've come to know about it. Mescal (mezcal) tequila is made from the agave or "century" plant. "The worm" is actually the agave worm, it lives under the plant and has a kind of symbiotic reletionship with it, so much so that when the plants are harvested and used to make the mescal the worm is included... because it is in effect part of the plant.

There's more to it than that, and the Mexicans have a kind of ritual they go through with regards to eating the worm and what it's supposed to do for you etc.

They tell us gullible tourists that if you eat the worm and drink the last shot of the bottle to wash it down you will be "3 days sexy", or irresistibly attractive to the opposite sex for 3 days.

Works for me every time. :D