Taco Tuesday: A Celebration of America’s Favorite Food

Tacos have become a beloved staple in American cuisine, with millions of people enjoying them every week. Whether you prefer them crunchy or soft, filled with meat or veggies, tacos are a versatile and delicious meal that can be customized to your liking. In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of tacos, the different types of tacos, and some tips for making the perfect taco.

The History of Tacos

Show a picture of a taco to almost anyone, and they’re sure to recognize it no matter what it is stuffed with. The taco that we’re so familiar with however, is actually only about 100 years old. Tacos originated in the 18^th century, with Mexican silver miners.

At the time, “taco” didn’t refer to food, but to little charges of dynamite used to blast ore. The original food was thought to be called tacos de minero, possibly because a tortilla wrapping a spicy filling can feel like an explosion in your mouth.

Whatever the case may be, the world fell in love, and the taco was born.

Tortilla Lovers Welcome

Although the Mexican silver miners are where tacos originally came from, tortillas filled with food have been around for much longer. Ancient Mexicans would make soft corn tortillas and fill them with ingredients like fish or organs.

The fillings changed depending on what region they came from. The city of Cuautla, Mexico for example, was known for tacos filled with sausage, chorizo, green sauce and pork rinds and mole Verde. Other cities had their own unique twists.

In the USA, it was no different. In the Southwest, taco fillings were inspired by the meat often given to cowboys as part of their pay. Mexican cowboys took these meats, which were often cheap, poor cuts, and found ways to make it delicious for their meals. This often meant a style of taco.

In California, tacos leaned more towards the ingredients we see today, with ground meats and cheese. These tacos were sold by Mexican women known as Chili Queens.

Finally, the hard shells we are most familiar with came about. Although Taco Bell’s founder is most famous for using them, they were actually in practice long before he adopted them. Hard shell tacos were likely chosen because they stayed fresher longer and were easier to stuff with fillings.

Types of Tacos

Thanks to the widespread popularity of tacos, we now have an abundance of different flavors to enjoy, even locally. The cultures that invented each type of taco have spread across the world, and there are now many taco flavors to enjoy. Here are a few of the most popular.

• Traditional American Tacos
  While not traditional in Mexico, the taco we have come to expect when we visit Taco Bell have very consistent ingredients. In general we expect a traditional American taco to have seasoned ground meat, cheese, lettuce and sour cream.
  
  Other popular fillings for American style tacos include carne asada, which is a flank steak filling, spit-grilled pork like al pastor and pulled pork style meat with carnitas.

These tacos are all American, but often have the touch of different cultures who brought their own seasonings and ideas to the concept of the Taco. This is a truly wonderful part of the history of tacos, and why they come in so many different flavors.

• Fish Tacos
  Fish tacos came from coastal Mexico, where indigenous people wrapped their catch in corn tortillas. This was later adapted by the people of Baja, California to become more like the fish tacos we know today.
  
  Fish tacos typically include deep fried fish, spicy mayo, lettuce, salsa and lime.
• Breakfast Tacos
  This fan favorite originally got its start in Northern Mexico, where it later migrated into America through Texas. These tacos are typically served in a flour tortilla rather than a corn tortilla. Popular fillings include egg, chorizo, salsa and cheese.

Although these are the most common, there is an estimated 41 different types of tacos! That’s not including variations created by customizing the taco from there, such as adding favorite condiments like salsa or sour cream. As time goes on, there will likely be more delicious and amazing tacos out there for us to try.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Point to a spot in North America, and you will probably find a taco unique to the culture that created it. From Taco de Barbacoa which has a Caribbean twist, to campechano’s from the heart of Mexico, there’s a take on tacos for everyone.

Once you have selected a type of taco, there’s many more choices to make. Here are a few options:

• Corn tortilla vs. Flour Tortilla

The type of tortilla can make a difference in the flavor and texture of the food. Flour tortillas are typically used for breakfast tacos, but otherwise are usually a personal choice. Typically, the crunchy style shells are only available in corn.

• Salsa

Salsa itself has almost as many types and styles as tacos. There is salsa verde, pico de gallo, spicy salsa, mild salsa, and even fruity sweet kinds. Salsa can change the overall flavor of the taco, so making a good choice is important.

• Guacamole

Another common addition to tacos is guacamole. Guacamole is a mixture made from seasonings and mashed avocados. It adds a rich, creamy flavor to the tacos on top of being very healthy.

• Sour Cream

Another common addition to tacos is sour cream. Sour cream can take the heat out of salsa that is too spicy, and once again adds a creamier flavor to tacos.

With so many different types of tacos out there, and so many different modifications, it’s possible to eat a taco every day and never get bored.

Tacos are a beloved food that have become a part of American culture. Whether you’re enjoying them at a restaurant or making them at home, tacos are a delicious and versatile meal that can be customized to your liking. So next time you’re craving a taco, remember the history and variety of this beloved food and enjoy every bite.