Top 12 Taco-tastic Fun Facts: Spice Up Your Knowledge on This Iconic Dish

1. Ancient Corny Origins

Feeling corny? Well, buckle up, corn enthusiasts – the taco's ancient beginnings are here to make you grin from ear to ear: Hailing from the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico, our beloved tortilla's inception dates back to 1,500 BC, thanks to the process of nixtamalization, which made corn more digestible, nutritious, and led to the creation of the Mesoamerican staple used as a spoon or a vessel for various tasty fillings, including grasshopper (yummy!).
Source => vallartaeats.com

2. International Taco Holidays

The taco fiesta never stops: with pockets of scrumptious celebrations all over the calendar, there's no need to taco 'bout FOMO. Here's the deal: In the United States, they live it up on National Taco Day every May 3rd, while Mexico gets their taco groove on with Día del Taco on March 31st. But hold your horses, amigos - the French spin-off a Lyon's tale with their very own version on July 31st! And just to keep you on your toes, Del Taco decided to spice things up with an October 4th extravaganza, stirred up from a saucy 2009 ad campaign.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that the delicious snack of nachos was actually a spontaneous creation by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya in 1943 to satisfy some hungry US Army wives in Mexico? Discover the fascinating story behind Nacho's Especiales and its humble beginnings!

=> Fun Facts about Nachos

3. Flautas vs. Taquitos

Roll over Beethoven, it's time for flautas to take center stage: these Mexican rockstars are stuffed with shredded chicken or beef, wrapped in tortillas, and fried to crispy perfection, making them a delicious main course that'll leave you wanting an encore. Drumroll, please: contrary to popular belief, flautas and taquitos aren't twin acts, with the former being larger and made with either flour or corn tortillas, while the latter are merely appetizer-sized and crafted from corn tortillas alone.
Source => tijuanaflats.com

4. Brainy Tacos

Are you a brains behind the brawn kind of person? Then buckle up, because these tacos have quite the IQ-tastic twist for your taste buds: Tacos de sesos, which are made from cow or goat brains, are a popular Mexican street food delicacy known for their melt-in-your-mouth, silky texture, and are typically served with fresh toppings like onions, cilantro, and lime on warm corn tortillas.
Source => atlasobscura.com

5. Sushi Taco Love Child

When East met West in a mouthwatering plot twist, they salsa-danced their way to a scrumptious love child: Say hello to sushi tacos! The delicious combo is believed to have emerged from SoCal and Vegas joints, marrying seaweed or fried taco shells with temptations like tempura shrimp, soft-shell crab, fatty salmon and zesty sauces, all in a bite-sized fiesta.
Source => topsushimaker.com

6. Space-Approved Tortillas

In a crunchwrap-tastic twist of fate, soft tacos shot for the stars and became a cosmic staple, helping NASA with its out-of-this-world cravings: Taco Bell's extended shelf life tortillas, introduced in the 1990s, can now be found on board the International Space Station, thanks to their impressive ability to remain fresh for up to a year without turning bitter.
Source => firstwefeast.com

7. Pujol's Taco-Wine Pairing

If a taco and a glass of Mexican wine walked into a bar, they'd likely walk out as best friends: You can find this unlikely pairing in Mexico City’s Pujol, where the Taco Omakase menu presents a culinary adventure of 8 different taco and drink combinations, including Mexican sake, white wine, and Atolli. This feast features a diverse line-up ranging from street snacks to uni and black bean tetela, a scallop tostada, a softshell crab and shiso taco, and Pujol's renowned Mole Madre, aged for almost 5 years. Dessert in the garden? Pujol tops off the experience with a lip-smacking fried churro.
Source => lanniesfoodandtravel.com

8. Choco Taco Nostalgia

Feeling the choco-loneliness once more, as tacos went on a sugar-free diet: The Choco Taco – a scrumptious amalgamation of waffle cone, vanilla ice cream, and sweet toppings – was viciously discontinued due to dismally low sales. Fear not, nostalgic taste buds! Home-made Choco Taco recipes float around the interwebs, granting you the power to reunite with this frosty, portable fiesta of a dessert!
Source => acozykitchen.com

9. Crunchy Taco's Humble Beginnings

In a time when 19 cents could buy you a ticket to Flavortown without breaking the bank, Taco Bell had a secret weapon to tantalize the taste buds of taco lovers everywhere: Behold, the Crunchy Taco! This 1962 instant classic became the founding pillar of the fast food giant, propelling Taco Bell towards eternal crunchy stardom.
Source => prnewswire.com

10. Tacos al Pastor's Cultural Mashup

Move over, Captain America: we've got the ultimate crossover event right here in taco form! Once upon a tastebud-tingling time, Lebanese shawarma and Mexican flavors had a love affair, resulting in the creation of the mouth-watering Tacos al Pastor. The tantalizing transformation occurred when Mexican-born children of Lebanese immigrants swapped out the traditional lamb for pork, marinated in a medley of fruit juices, chilies, and spices, switched the flour tortilla for corn, and served it all up with pineapple and cilantro, while still paying homage to their Lebanese heritage by cooking the pork on a vertical spit called a trompo.
Source => historicalmx.org

11. Taco Tia: The Prequel

Before Taco Bell "taco-vered" our hearts and taste buds, founder Glen Bell was whipping up a storm at a little-known stand called Taco Tia - perhaps you could say it was his "first tortilla in the dip" of taco entrepreneurship: Unbeknownst to many, it was in Taco Tia that Bell mastered the skill of speedy and efficient taco assembly, ultimately leading to the birth of Taco Bell - and forever changing the world of taco lovers everywhere.
Source => tacobell.com

12. Taco Cleanse for the Soul

Who needs vitamins when you've got tortillas? Unleash your inner tacoholic and indulge in some delectable, well-rounded nutrition that's sure to make your taste buds cha-cha-cha: The Taco Cleanse book offers more than 35 vegan recipes, providing a variety of fillings and toppings to ensure a balanced diet, while some say a spicy taco before bedtime even spices up your dreams! Beware though: dining solely on this fiesta fare might treat your taste buds but won't guarantee a waistline whittling wonder.
Source => kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com