Interesting Taco Fun Facts That You Probably Never Knew
Tacos are extremely tasty; this is a well-known fun fact. Tacos, however, are more than just delicious. What about other interesting facts that you may not be aware of?
Brief History of Tacos
Tacos have been around for quite some time. How long, you ask? There is no precise date, but some believe it occurred between 1000 and 500 B.C.
The term “Taco” was coined by Mexican silver miners to describe explosive gunpowder wrapped in thin sheets of paper.
Back then, elite Mexicans preferred bread to tacos because they saw them as poor people’s food.
Taco has many translations, one of which is “a wad,” alluding to the fact that tacos resemble folded wads of cash.
Another translation claims that the word derives from the Nahuatl word “tlahco,” which means “half” or “in the middle,” because tacos are typically folded in half with the fillings placed in the center of the tortilla.
Tortillas are Mexican round and thin flat bread made from unleavened cornmeal or dough.
Taco fillings are extremely versatile; you can stuff them with anything from beef, chicken, and seafood to tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese.
Tacos arrived in the United States in 1905, when Mexican immigrants began to arrive.
The Chili Queens, a group of Mexican women from San Antonio, opened a food stand in the city and sold tacos.
As tourists became interested in trying their Mexican dishes, their business flourished.
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Interesting Taco Fun Facts
Here are some interesting taco fun facts that will live rent-free in your head and make you appreciate this wonderful snack all the more.
1. The First Food Truck was a Taco Truck
Raul Martinez, a Mexican immigrant, established the first food truck, a taco truck, in front of a Los Angeles diner in 1974.
He turned an old ice cream truck into a mobile taco restaurant, selling street tacos.
Needless to say, he was so successful that he launched the King Taco restaurant chain six months later.
In California, there are 22 King Taco locations.
2. There is a Specific Time to Eat Tacos
You don’t eat tacos at just any time, according to Mexican tradition. There are different taco times for different taco varieties.
For example, you might eat seafood tacos for lunch and antojitos for dinner as a snack to satisfy late-night cravings.
This is because Mexicans eat heavily in the afternoon, so you won’t find tacos on the streets of Mexico from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This rule is not absolute, but it is there just in case.
3. The World’s Most Expensive Taco
The world’s priciest taco costs $25,000 and they stuffed it with Kobe beef, beluga caviar, black truffle, brie cheese, and langoustines.
Frida, an haute cuisine diner specializing in gourmet Mexican cuisine, serves this exquisite taco.
They named it after the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and is located on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.
4. The French Burrito
The French have their own tacos, which are not the same as Mexican tacos.
Although the French use a flour tortilla, their tacos are more akin to a grilled burrito.
The main distinction between tacos and burritos is that burritos are typically much larger than tacos, with single burritos constituting an entire meal.
The Largest Taco Delivery
On May 26, 2017, UberEats and El Tizoncito both in Mexico made the largest delivery of packaged tacos.
They delivered these tacos weighing 1,230.2 kg (2,712.13 lb), at Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City, Mexico.
It held 36,300 tacos and over 600 UberEats delivered them.
Other Taco Fun Facts
1. Tacos are one of the dishes that you can eat without the use of cutlery.
2. Every year, Americans consume over 4.5 billion tacos.
3. It is one of the most popular fast foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.
4. According to the Mexican Department of Agriculture, there are over 20,000 different taco recipes.
5. In Spanish, “taqueria” means “taco shop.”
6. Both Mexico and the United States observe National Taco Day. Tacos are celebrated in Mexico on March 31, while in the United States on October 4.
7. Tacos were once considered poor people’s food in Mexico.
8. Tacos are the symbol of Mexican cuisine because they come in an infinite variety of flavors, colors, and styles.
9. Tacos can be stuffed with almost anything.
10. On November 20, 2011, the world’s largest taco was built in Queretaro, Mexico. It measured 246 feet long and was filled with carnitas.
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Final Words
When they serve you a heaping plate of fresh tacos, take a moment to reflect on its long history and how it made its way all the way from Mexico to your plate.
Then close your eyes and enjoy the delectable flavor.
Don’t forget to broaden your culinary horizons by experimenting with new taco recipes.
You might just come up with a global recipe.