Updated May 2025
After decades of consuming artificial additives, flavorings, and preservatives, many consumers have finally had enough and started to make more conscious decisions about what goes into their bodies.
The rise of all-natural, organic, and additive-free products offers consumers worried about long-term health effects a compelling alternative to eating brands with unrecognizable chemical compounds on their labels.
This trend has even started to influence the type of spirits many people choose to drink, with additive-free tequila becoming an increasingly popular option. However, tequila with no additives can mean different things to different people.
What additives are in tequila can vary between brands, and not all additives are created equal.
Let’s look at what the best additive-free tequilas all have in common, why the best natural tequila can still contain additives, and why finding the cleanest tequila brand often depends on taste.
One Person’s Additive is Another’s Ingredient?
For many consumers, the term “additive” evokes images of unnatural substances that shouldn’t be in our food or drinks.
Any added dyes, chemicals, taste enhancers, or shelf-life extenders automatically make a product less healthy than one labeled additive-free. However, not all additives are the same.
Artificial additives, like the unpronounceable chemical compounds found on a Twinkies label, are far different than all-natural additives, which can include beneficial vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants.
All-natural ingredients can also be considered “additives” if we take the term at face value. If adding anything to a product is considered an “additive” then the term also applies to natural fruit juices, sugars, and microbes. Yet, most health-conscious consumers are fine with these types of natural ingredients because they align with a healthier diet.
If we agree that there’s a difference between artificial additives and all-natural additives then the definition of what’s considered an additive-free tequila greatly expands.
What Additives Are In Tequila?
The types of additives used in mixto tequila, compared to premium tequila made from 100% agave, help show the difference between all-natural and artificial.
Mixto tequila is only made from 51% Blue Weber agave. The other 49% often includes:
- Artificial flavoring
- Coloring agents
- Chemical compounds
All things most people would rather avoid.
Some producers even take shortcuts by adding:
- Caramel coloring, to simulate the deep hue that normally comes from proper barrel aging
- Glycerin, to artificially enhance the mouthfeel when their agave was harvested too early
These additives are often used to cover for a rushed production process or a lack of natural maturation.
While tequilas labeled as “100% Blue Agave” guarantee that all the fermented sugars are from agave, this label does not necessarily mean they are free from additives.
This distinction is essential, as even 100% Blue Agave tequilas can legally include small amounts of additives for color, flavor, or texture enhancement without having to declare them on the label.
However, premium tequilas like Suavecito Tequila are made from 100% Blue Weber agave and contain no artificial additives.
Despite the massive difference, neither type can be labeled “additive-free” tequila.
Suavecito Tequila adds 2% agave nectar back to our tequila to help smooth out the finish and create a remarkable flavor that’s as natural as it is delicious.
Although agave nectar comes from the same agave plant our tequila is made from, the fact that Suavecito adds anything to our tequila means that, technically, we’re not an additive-free tequila despite being 100% all-natural.
In this case, it’s not a distinction without a difference that separates premium tequilas like Suavecito from mixto and artificially flavored tequila. Premium tequilas use only all-natural ingredients, while the others use a variety of artificial ingredients.
At Suavecito, we prioritize transparency by clearly listing all ingredients on our labels, including the 2% agave nectar we return to our tequila, which demonstrates our commitment to honest communication with our customers. You never have to worry about what you’re drinking when enjoying Suavecitio Tequila.
Consumers looking for tequila with no additives shouldn’t just look for the words “additive-free.” Consider:
- What types of additives are used?
- Are they natural or artificial?
- Does the producer tell you what’s really in the bottle?
With Suavecito, you never have to wonder. Just pour, sip, and enjoy.
Is Additive-Free Tequila Better for You?
It depends on how you define better. For many people, additive-free tequila feels like a healthier option because it avoids artificial flavorings, colorings, and thickeners. If you care about what goes into your body, choosing tequila with only natural ingredients is a move that makes sense.
But “additive-free” isn’t always the full story. Some additive-free tequilas can still fall short on taste or quality if they’re made from immature agave or rushed through production. That’s why it’s important to look beyond the label and consider how the tequila is made—and how it tastes.
If you want to know whether a tequila has additives, start by checking if the brand discloses its ingredients. Look for producers who are open about their process and confident enough to tell you what’s inside the bottle.
Because when it comes to choosing the right tequila, transparency and taste go hand in hand.
Finding the Cleanest Tequila Brand
Once labels stop mattering, it ultimately comes down to taste when determining which premium tequila brand to buy.
When taste takes the throne, it’s not just about what’s absent (like additives), but what’s present—rich flavors, crisp finishes, and the subtle nuances that define a top-tier tequila.
Suavecito Tequila is a sensory exploration where notes of vanilla, citrus, and earthiness come alive in every sip.
Our Blanco is a pure representation of fresh-cut agave, brimming with vibrant citrus and herbal notes that dance on the palate.
Aged gently in oak barrels, our Reposado gains a golden hue and enriches its flavor profile with subtle hints of vanilla and caramel intertwined with soft, spicy undertones.
Meticulously aged, our Añejo boasts a rich bouquet of dried fruits and toasted oak, with a lingering finish of chocolate and coffee notes.
Finally, the pinnacle of our Extra Añejo spends an extended time in the barrel, infusing it with a harmony of dark chocolate, ripe berries, and a whisper of smoky sweetness, creating a luxurious and velvety smooth tequila.
If you’re looking for the best natural tequila, grab a glass and let your palate be the judge.
After all, the cleanest tequila brand might just be the one that tastes so good it disappears from your glass before you know it!
