Standing in an agave field, at the Jose Cuervo Tequila plantation, I was interviewing one of the world’s most famous harvesters. To demonstrate how heavy the agave core (or pina) is, I decided to pick one up. It looks like a giant pineapple. Struggling to hoist the agave up, I discover…it’s too late. The toxic slime made contact with my skin, causing a painful burn. Struggling not to scratch, I was given a traditional ointment, but that wouldn’t prevent the unsightly, blistering white rash that was soon to follow. This is the stuff you don't see on tv - julia