Patty Kittrell

Spanish 1010
Cultural Project
Spring 2016
History of Tacos and Taco Importance
Tacos are a delicious versatile dish that is usually served with meat and delicious
toppings in a small tortilla. Traditional variations include carne asada (steak), al pastor (spicy
pork with pineapple), carnitas (pork), chicken, and fish. Toppings can include onions, cilantro,
salsa, and lime. Sometimes even served for breakfast with eggs, meat, cheese, onions, and salsa.
Tacos can be as simple or complex as you like them (Stradley, 2015). With many variations,
tacos have evolved throughout culture and time, and are extremely delicious.
The exact origin of tacos in unknown, but one theory proposes that a taco was a word
referenced from the silver mines in Mexico. It refers to the sheets of paper they would wrap
around explosives to make dynamite sticks (Freisen, 2012). Freisen says that a rolled up chicken
taco with good hot sauce is basically a stick of dynamite (2012). Early taquerias in Mexico have
been a prominent cultural food since the 1800s. Back then, tacos were originally a working-class
dish. In the 19th century, immigrants and other cultures began to make improvements on the taco
(Freisen, 2012). Thus, the popularity and versatility began in the history of the taco. The taco
continues to evolve and many cultures give their own spin to this Mexican classic.
Street tacos are by far my favorite, and can really capture the essence of modern day taco
culture, while still holding the integrity of original Mexican tacos. Street tacos, in a way, can also
show a bridging of cultures. If you go to a taco stand on the sidewalk, you will see business

people, construction workers, students, and native Spanish speakers in the United States, and
Hispanic countries alike (Graber, 2008).
Modern day, there are pre packaged taco making kits sold in the U.S. Ortega has a line of
ten different taco kit flavors including steak, or pork, soft, corn, or whole wheat tortilla, and
grande size (B&G Foods, 2016).
Tacos have even influenced the native American Indian cultures. Navajo tacos made out
of Indian fry bread are a tradition in the Navajo culture. The Native Americans lived, grew crops,
and farmed livestock in a region that is modern day Colorado, Arizona, and Utah, mostly in the
Southwest United States. In the 1800s, Mexican, Spanish, and other Native American groups
from the south began to trade with the Navajo people in the north. This communication lead to
war, and poverty struck the Navajo people. Fry bread became a huge part of their culture because
it was all they could afford at the time. The government supplies of lard, flour, salt, sugar,
baking powder or yeast, and powdered milk were often rancid (Stradley, 2015).
Fry bread is still a prominent source of food in the Navajo culture. Oklahoma hosts a
national fry bread contest and one of the largest Native American parades in Oklahoma every
year. Today fry bread is served both savory and sweet. It is usually sold as a carnival treat with
cinnamon sugar and honey. It is also sold as a hearty fast food meal, served with refried beans or
ground beef, and taco usual toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese (Stradley, 2015).
Tacos are an important and delicious dish eaten by many cultures. Primarily a Mexican
influenced dish, tacos are served in many regions of the Americas today. Tacos continue to
evolve, and many variations are out there to try. All kinds of people eat tacos because they are
delicious, versatile, and unless you live under a rock, tacos are most likely available at a location
near you!

References
B&G Foods (2016). "Ortega Taco Kits". Retrieved from: http://www.ortega.com/products/tacomeal-kits on Apr 21, 2016.
Friesen, Katy June (2012). "Where Did the Taco Come from?" Smithsonian Magazine.
Graber, Karen Hursh (2008). "Wrap It Up: A Guide to Mexican Street Tacos Part II: Nighttime
Tacos". Mexico Connect.
Stradley, Linda (2015). "Navajo Fry Bread and Indian Tacos: History and Recipes of Navajo Fry
Bread and Indian Tacos". Retrieved from:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/NavajoFryBread.htm on Apr 21, 2016.