Mexico entrepreneurs are eyeing China and its population as the next big market for tequila.

CCTV America’s Martin Markovits reports.
Follow Martin Markovits on Twitter @MartinMarkovits

In the past few years, the drink is gaining in popularity across the country. But there are challenges in making the spirit a mainstay in Chinese bars and homes.

Mexico’s most famous alcoholic drink tequila has found fans all across the world. But it still hasn’t gone mainstream in China, the world’s biggest market. Fabiola Rodriguez, a young Mexican entrepreneur, hopes to change that.

“Some Chinese people like my boss asked me why don’t I see a Mexican brand in China? He said can you recommend some Mexican coffee. I told him we have great coffee, great chocolate, we have tequila, and he asked why don’t I see those products in China,” said Fabiola Rodriguez, owner of Conexión Asia.

The 29-year-old is now one of the main exporters of tequila to China. Since the Chinese government started allowing the import of tequila made with 100 percent blue agave, business has started to grow. Mexico’s National Chamber of the Tequila Industry says exports to China grew 17 percent in 2015. China could surpass the United States to become the number one tequila consumer by 2020.