I love Tacos! When my husband and I went to Mexico we thoroughly enjoyed truly authentic tacos and fell in love with them all over again. This amazing food always intrigued me, so I researched its origins, and here's what I learned.
The word "taco" comes from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, and it means "half or in the middle" or "to fill". The word was originally used to describe the way the indigenous people of Mexico folded their flatbreads, which were called tlaxcalli, in half and filled them with various ingredients. Over time, the word "taco" came to specifically refer to the filled and folded tortilla that we now know as a taco
Tacos have a long and complex history that spans thousands of years and multiple cultures. The origins of the taco can be traced back to the indigenous people of Mesoamerica, who made flatbreads called tlaxcalli and filled them with a variety of ingredients, including fish, beans, and insects.
The word "taco" itself comes from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, and was first recorded in the 18th century. Tacos were originally sold by street vendors in Mexico City and other cities in Mexico, and they quickly became a popular food among the working class.
As Mexican cuisine spread to other parts of the world, so did the popularity of tacos. Today, tacos are a staple of Mexican cuisine and can be found in restaurants and street food stalls all over the world.
There are many different types of tacos, each with its own unique history and regional variations. Some of the most popular types of tacos include:
- Carnitas tacos: filled with slow-cooked pork
- Al pastor tacos: filled with marinated pork and pineapple
- Fish tacos: filled with battered and fried fish
- Barbacoa tacos: filled with slow-cooked beef
- Vegetarian and vegan tacos: filled with a variety of vegetables, beans, and plant-based proteins
In recent years, tacos have also been adapted to suit a variety of dietary restrictions, including gluten-free and low-carb diets. Regardless of the type of taco, however, they remain a beloved and iconic part of Mexican cuisine and culinary culture.
