2025.10.26 – How Tequila, Agave Syrup and Royal & Celebrity Myths Intersect

Key Take-aways

• Agave syrup (also called “agave nectar”) is made from several species of the agave plant, including the blue agave (Agave tequilana).
• Authentic tequila must be produced from the blue agave cultivar in specific Mexican regions.
• The agave plant is not a cactus—though similar in appearance—botanically distinct.
• The claim that Queen Máxima of the Netherlands earns €2 million per month is incorrect; her official annual income is significantly lower.
• The claim that Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner were married is false—they never wed.

Story & Details

The agave plant and its uses

Agave: A genus of succulent plants native to arid regions of the Americas, adapted to dry conditions and forming large rosettes of fleshy leaves. Though often mistaken for cacti, agaves belong to a different family altogether.
Agave syrup / agave nectar: A sweetener produced from several agave species. For example: “blue-agave syrup contains ~56 % fructose and is derived from the cores (piñas) of Agave tequilana or Agave americana, or by collecting ‘aguamiel’ from Agave salmiana.”
Tequila: A Mexican distilled alcoholic beverage that by law must be made from the blue agave (Agave tequilana var. azul) grown in designated regions (primarily in Jalisco).

Thus when you ask: Do tequila and agave syrup come from the same plant? — The answer is: fundamentally yes in the broad sense (both originate from the agave genus). But important caveats: tequila uses a specific cultivar (blue agave) and specific production rules; agave syrup may use various species of agave. Also, agave plants are not cacti despite appearances.

Royal earnings myth: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands

There has been a statement that Queen Máxima earns €2 million per month. According to reliable sources, her income is far lower: for example, her salary in a recent year was reported at around €431,000. Broader outreach indicated the royal household budget at ~€55 million, with the queen’s allowance significantly less than the “€2 million per month” figure. Thus the original claim is a gross exaggeration.

Celebrity marriage myth: Whitney Houston & Kevin Costner

The claim that Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner were married is incorrect. They co-starred in the 1992 film The Bodyguard and maintained a close professional and personal bond, but there is no record of a marriage. One can find interviews and videos examining their special relationship, but none substantiate a matrimonial link.

Summary of corrections

• Tequila + agave syrup: share the same plant genus, but not always the exact same species/plants and they differ in regulation and use.
• Agave plant vs cactus: though superficially similar succulents, agave plants are not cacti.
• Queen Máxima’s earnings: nowhere near €2 million/month; official figures imply several hundred thousand euros annually.
• Houston & Costner: deeply linked in Hollywood but never married.

Conclusions

The convergence of three separate themes—botanical/culinary (agave plant, syrup, tequila), royal finance, celebrity relationship—reveals how misunderstandings or oversimplified statements can propagate. Recognizing precise species (blue agave vs other agaves), legal boundaries (what qualifies as tequila), and factual data (royal income, celebrity marriages) helps clear confusion. In short: yes agave syrup and tequila share the same kind of plant—but not in the identical regulated context; no tequila is not made from a cactus; royal income claims and celebrity marriage claims can sometimes be mis-represented and merit verification.

Sources

• Agave syrup – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_syrup
• How our tequila is made from agave sugar: https://noeldistillery.com/how-our-tequila-is-made-from-agave-sugar/
• Dutch royal family budget rises 11% to €55 million: https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/09/dutch-royal-family-budget-rises-11-to-e55-million/
• Queen Máxima – Royal House of the Netherlands: https://www.royal-house.nl/members-royal-house/queen-maxima
• The TRUTH about Whitney Houston & Kevin Costner’s special relationship (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-ZZtbZ1OA

Appendix

ling-term definitions

• Agave: A genus of succulents native to the Americas, distinct from the cactus family.
• Blue agave (Agave tequilana var. azul): The specific cultivar legally required for authentic tequila production.
• Agave syrup / agave nectar: A sweetener derived from several species of agave, processed into a syrup form.
• Cactus: A member of the plant family Cactaceae, different from agave plants; term often mis-used when describing succulent plants.
• Succulent: A descriptive term for plants that store water in fleshy tissues, not limited to agaves or cacti.