diff --git a/examples/sushi/models/customer_revenue_by_day.sql b/examples/sushi/models/customer_revenue_by_day.sql
index 3b7f3724cb..248af2db8d 100644
--- a/examples/sushi/models/customer_revenue_by_day.sql
+++ b/examples/sushi/models/customer_revenue_by_day.sql
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ WITH order_total AS (
   LEFT JOIN sushi.items AS i
     ON oi.item_id = i.id AND oi.event_date = i.event_date
   WHERE
-    oi.event_date BETWEEN CAST('{{ start_ds }}' as DATE) AND CAST('{{ end_ds }}' as DATE)
+    oi.event_date BETWEEN @start_date AND @end_date
   GROUP BY
     oi.order_id,
     oi.event_date
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ FROM sushi.orders AS o
 LEFT JOIN order_total AS ot
   ON o.id = ot.order_id AND o.event_date = ot.event_date
 WHERE
-  o.event_date BETWEEN CAST('{{ start_ds }}' as DATE) AND CAST('{{ end_ds }}' as DATE)
+  o.event_date BETWEEN @start_date AND @end_date
 GROUP BY
   o.customer_id,
   o.event_date
diff --git a/examples/sushi/models/waiter_as_customer_by_day.sql b/examples/sushi/models/waiter_as_customer_by_day.sql
index 7dc12db873..dd9f79b5a3 100644
--- a/examples/sushi/models/waiter_as_customer_by_day.sql
+++ b/examples/sushi/models/waiter_as_customer_by_day.sql
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ SELECT
 FROM sushi.waiters AS w
 JOIN sushi.customers as c ON w.waiter_id = c.customer_id
 JOIN sushi.waiter_names as wn ON w.waiter_id = wn.id
-WHERE w.event_date BETWEEN @start_date AND @end_date;
+WHERE w.event_date BETWEEN CAST('{{ start_ds }}' as DATE) AND @end_date;
 
 JINJA_END;
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/macros.py b/sqlmesh/core/macros.py
index 42a4a8b8dc..9e7df5d111 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/macros.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/macros.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 from datetime import datetime, date
 
 import sqlglot
-from jinja2 import Environment
 from sqlglot import Generator, exp, parse_one
 from sqlglot.executor.env import ENV
 from sqlglot.executor.python import Python
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@
 )
 from sqlmesh.utils.date import DatetimeRanges, to_datetime, to_date
 from sqlmesh.utils.errors import MacroEvalError, SQLMeshError
-from sqlmesh.utils.jinja import JinjaMacroRegistry, has_jinja
 from sqlmesh.utils.metaprogramming import (
     Executable,
     SqlValue,
@@ -193,7 +191,6 @@ def __init__(
         self.columns_to_types_called = False
         self.default_catalog = default_catalog
 
-        self._jinja_env: t.Optional[Environment] = None
         self._schema = schema
         self._resolve_table = resolve_table
         self._resolve_tables = resolve_tables
@@ -282,12 +279,6 @@ def evaluate_macros(
                 if node.this != text:
                     changed = True
                     return exp.to_identifier(text, quoted=node.quoted or None)
-            if node.is_string:
-                text = node.this
-                if has_jinja(text):
-                    changed = True
-                    node.set("this", self.jinja_env.from_string(node.this).render())
-                return node
             if isinstance(node, MacroFunc):
                 changed = True
                 return self.evaluate(node)
@@ -436,14 +427,6 @@ def parse_one(
         """
         return sqlglot.maybe_parse(sql, dialect=self.dialect, into=into, **opts)
 
-    @property
-    def jinja_env(self) -> Environment:
-        if not self._jinja_env:
-            jinja_env_methods = {**self.locals, **self.env}
-            del jinja_env_methods["self"]
-            self._jinja_env = JinjaMacroRegistry().build_environment(**jinja_env_methods)
-        return self._jinja_env
-
     def columns_to_types(self, model_name: TableName | exp.Column) -> t.Dict[str, exp.DataType]:
         """Returns the columns-to-types mapping corresponding to the specified model."""
 
diff --git a/tests/core/test_model.py b/tests/core/test_model.py
index eecc3977e7..9266a56c10 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_model.py
@@ -2566,11 +2566,15 @@ def test_parse(assert_exp_eq):
           dialect '',
         );
 
+        JINJA_QUERY_BEGIN;
+
         SELECT
           id::INT AS id,
           ds
         FROM x
-        WHERE ds BETWEEN '{{ start_ds }}' AND @end_ds
+        WHERE ds BETWEEN '{{ start_ds }}' AND @end_ds;
+
+        JINJA_END;
     """
     )
     model = load_sql_based_model(expressions, dialect="hive")
@@ -2580,8 +2584,8 @@ def test_parse(assert_exp_eq):
     }
     assert not model.annotated
     assert model.dialect == ""
-    assert isinstance(model.query, exp.Select)
-    assert isinstance(SqlModel.parse_raw(model.json()).query, exp.Select)
+    assert isinstance(model.query, d.JinjaQuery)
+    assert isinstance(SqlModel.parse_raw(model.json()).query, d.JinjaQuery)
     assert_exp_eq(
         model.render_query(),
         """
@@ -11543,3 +11547,18 @@ def test_text_diff_optimize_query():
     diff = model1.text_diff(model2)
     assert diff, "Expected diff to show optimize_query change"
     assert "+  optimize_query" in diff.lower()
+
+
+def test_raw_jinja_raw_tag():
+    expressions = d.parse(
+        """
+        MODEL (name test);
+
+        JINJA_QUERY_BEGIN;
+        SELECT {% raw %} '{{ foo }}' {% endraw %} AS col;
+        JINJA_END;
+        """
+    )
+
+    model = load_sql_based_model(expressions)
+    assert model.render_query().sql() == "SELECT '{{ foo }}' AS \"col\""