What must be converted to sugar to produce tequila?

Tequila is produced from the blue agave plant, specifically using the plant's inulin as the primary carbohydrate source. Inulin is a polysaccharide that cannot be fermented directly to alcohol; it must first be converted into simple sugars, primarily fructose. This conversion is typically achieved through a process that involves cooking the agave piñas (hearts) to break down the inulin into fermentable sugars.

When producing tequila, the resulting sugars from the breakdown of inulin are then fermented by yeast to create alcohol. This distinguishes inulin from other carbohydrates, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which can either be fermentable directly or are not the primary source used in tequila production. Thus, the correct answer highlights the necessity of converting inulin to sugar to facilitate fermentation and produce tequila.