The History of Tacos
The word taco immediately conjures an image of seasoned meat, fresh lettuce and tomato wrapped in corn tortilla, so juicy it’s almost impossible to keep from falling apart. They vary from region to region, from downtown Smyrna restaurants to street vendors in San Antonio—there’s even a debate whether flour or corn tortillas are better!
Whatever you prefer, I think we can all appreciate a tasty taco, but we might be able to appreciate it even more when we understand where it came from and how it got to our table here in downtown Smyrna.
The Origins of Tacos
Before we get to the delicious meat of our modern day taco’s, let’s break down where the word “taco” comes from. In Nahuatl, Aztec’s common language, the word “tlahco” means half, a fitting name when you think about how tacos are folded.
There’s another layer of meaning to this word that surprisingly comes from Mexico’s silver mines. In the 19th century, “tacos” was an expression used to describe the charges silver miners used. They would wrap gunpowder into paper and place them into holes cut into the rock face.
Tacos de minero, or miner’s tacos, was the first record of the food we know and love—a soft corn tortilla filled with fish or cooked organs.Tacos became a staple in working class neighborhoods. It was affordable, nutritious, and very filling.
Tacos Coming to the U.S.
In 1905 Mexican migrants started to move to the U.S. bringing their recipes with them. Tacos became known as a street food, still thought of for the working class but also something venturous souls could try.
In Los Angeles, a group of women, known as “chili queens”, ran food carts offering passerbys a taste of something exotic. They became a part of the nightlife offering people an unique experience, their food often described as “biting like a serpent.”
The Blending of Cultures
As the children of Mexican migrants adapted to American culture, the cultures and food started to blend together. New ingredients were introduced to the tacos such as cheddar cheese, ground beef, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes.
In the 1940s, Mexicans started to fry their tortillas, bending them over to form the U-shaped hard shells that are so familiar now.This revolutionized the way tacos were made—corn tortillas may be tasty but they don’t keep well—paving the way for Mexican food to spread outside of Mexican communities.
It wasn’t until 1962, when Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell, that tacos started to become widespread. His use of franchising allowed for tacos to become more accessible, giving people a chance to try it when they ordinarily couldn’t.
Tacos of Today
The Corner Taqueria offers the very best. You can find authentic Mexican food here or if you are feeling adventurous try something unique such as the Breakfast or Calamari tacos.
Now the next time you are at a tequila bar you can wow your friends with the history of tacos!
