America's love affair with tacos and the story behind it

AMERICA'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH TACOS and The Story Behind It In 2012, Americans ate over 4.5 BILLION tacos. With a B. How did we get there? Let's take a trip down memory lane... 1520 The first recorded taco party in history was held 1520 by Hernan Cortes... you know, right before he went to kill all the Aztecs. 18th Century The word taco that we hold so dear today actually got its start in the 18th century silver mines in Mexico. Back then, a taco was just some paper wrapped around gunpowder. Imagine biting into one of those! 20th Century Immigration picks up at the start of the 20th century, and regional favorites from around Mexico make their way over to the US. Thin slices of meat grilled over mesquite coals and topped with salsa, onions, a little guacamole, and a lime wedge. The classic. Carne Asada Cow's head (mmmh mmmh!) steamed overnight and shredded. De Cabeza (head tacos) Sonora Baja California North of Mexico Sudados (sweaty tacos) Filled with cooked meat that's then steamed in a basket, Jalisco Bajio they're the only tacos not made Mexico City Fish to order. It gets the name from the trapped steam. Just because Michoacan Puebla someone's sweat and tears went Fried fish with into making them, doesn't mean cabbage and a citrus you'll be tasting that sweat. mayo sauce. Carnitas Al Pastor Cut up pieces of pork. At some taquerias you can even pick which of those tasty pork parts you want. An adaptation of the schwarma brought over by Lebanese immigrants, they use juicy slow-cooked pork and add an onion and pineapple to the spit. It only begins to catch on in the 1960s, but is now the undisputed king of tacos in Mexico. 1905 Extra Extra! TACO SPOTTED! 1947 Eureka! The first taco sighting in the US was in 1905. The hard shell taco is invented in 1947 because corn tortillas didn't stay fresh for very long. With this, tacos start to spread quickly outside of the Mexican community and into the hands of 1954 taco loving locals everywhere. ...... TACO There's always money in the taco stand! 1962 П TACO BELL ......... In 1954, Glen Bell opens up a little taco stand called Taco Tia. Then in Downey, California in 1962, he opens up what would become the first Mexican fast food Today franchise - TACO BELL. OCT 4th Today, tacos of all shapes and flavors are eaten all over the US. To show our appreciation, NATIONAL TACO DAY is celebrated on October 4th - the same day as National Vodka Day. THE NUMBERS The Mexican restaurant industry in 2012 $30.7 BILLION IN REVENUE 30,910 RESTAURANTS 800,000+0Bs JOBS 4.5 BILLION TACOS SOLD That's a whooole lotta tacos. To give you an idea of just how much, that's... 490,000ACOSs MILES OF Enough to take a trip to the moon and back. Yes I said it, the moon. It's also... 775 MILLION POUNDS The weight of EMPIRE STATE Z BUILDINGS Sources O Forkling http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Where-Did-the-Taco-Come-From.html http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Tortilla_Taco_history.htm http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/national_taco_day.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco#Hard-shell tacos http://www.nbcnews.com/business/taco-bell-may-be-taking-chipotle-cantina-bell-menu-816420 http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/2098-wrap-it-up-a-guide-to-mexican-street-tacos http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/mexican-restaurants.html