VERY INTERESTING: TACOS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Fun Facts About Tacos That You Probably Never Knew

If you are one of the many people out there who just loves tacos then chances are there is one thing you know about these iconic Mexican dishes: they are delicious. However, there is more to tacos than just great taste. In fact, here are some interesting fun-facts about tacos that most people probably never even knew about.

If you want to up your taco knowledge and be a true taco expert, here are some fun facts to get you started.

Tacos Are Really, Really Old

While there is some debate over when exactly the first taco was created, most experts state that the first taco was actually invented somewhere between 1,000 and 500 B.C. At the time, the taco was more about having an edible spoon and since has morphed into the dish that we know today.

However, the name taco came much later on. The first recorded reference to the word taco, then it was tacos mineros, came about in the 19th century. The first mention of the word taco in the United States didn’t come around until 1905.

When they first became popular in Mexico, they were served in the silver mines. At the time, they were thin sheets of paper wrapped in gunpowder. Talk about spicy!

Americans Eat a TON of Tacos

According to NationalTacoDay.com, Americans are eating billions of tacos every year, 4.5 billion to be more specific. Americans not only love tacos but they also love their Taco Bell… around half of the U.S. population visits a Taco Bell once every 11 days. Speaking of Taco Bell, the chain actually started in 1954 as a burger stand. They started selling hard tacos eventually, because they were in a Hispanic neighborhood.

The Biggest Taco Ever Was HUGE!

The biggest taco ever made was constructed on November 20th, 2011 in Queretaro, Mexico. It was 246 feet long and was made with carnitas as the filling.

There is a National Taco Day

Did you know there is a national day to celebrate tacos? National Taco day is October 4th.  Why not go out and celebrate?

The Word Taco Means “Light Lunch”

Roughly translated, the word taco means “light lunch” there are other translations too, such as “plug” or “wad.” However, most people use the “light lunch” translation. It seems a bit odd considering most people can’t resist tacos enough to keep it light.

The First Taco Truck Was in New York

Today, you can find taco trucks all over the country. However, the first taco truck originated in New York in 1966. The truck didn’t have a full kitchen, but it was mostly used for catering.

Tacos First Came to America Thanks to San Antonio

In 1905, when tacos first found their way to the United States it was because Mexicans were starting to move into the United States thanks to the San Antonio Chili Queens. They opened their own food stand in the city and the rest is history.

There is a Right Time of Day to Eat Tacos

For most people, any time of day is the right time of day to eat tacos, but there is actually a specific “taco time.” According to Mexican tradition, seafood tacos are meant to be eaten at lunch, while antojitos are to be eaten at dinner time.

Now that you have some fun trivia on tacos, it is time to impress your friends with your new knowledge and share your fun facts over a heaping plate of fresh, all you can eat, tacos during your next visit on Taco + Tequila Tuesdays at Borracha.