Why Mexican Cuisine Became So Popular in America

Ever since trying a burrito from Chipotle for the first time a few years ago, I've slowly fallen in love with Mexican food flavors and combinations. I don't particularly know what it is. Is it the freshness of the ingredients, the mouth watering spices, or is it just because it is different than the foods I am used to consuming? But, after trying my first burrito, I became obsessed with Mexican food history and I began to wonder why Mexican cuisine was such a hot commodity in American lives today. The articles that I read this week were all about how the taco and other Mexican staples were introduced and popularized in America, and I realized that there was a common theme between all of the means in which these foods became woven into America.

They were all tried and sought out because it was looked upon as "cheap" and "different" and a "new culture". And being American, a common thing done is looking down on foods that aren't traditionally consumed. Trying street tacos, I'm guessing, was a way to prove to people that they were brave and willing to experience how other people lived in other countries. The sexiness and scandalousness of Mexican culture itself could have also been a driving point for people to try the new food. In an article by the Smithsonian titled "Where did the taco come from?", the author mentioned the "Chili Queens of San Antonio" who were mysterious women who sold street food. They might have drawn consumers to the food, leading to trying the unique food.

What made the consumers stay after eating the tacos though, is another question. Going from eating burgers and shepherd's pie to having guacamole and spicy red pepper sauce is such a big difference, so why were people so attached to the culturally/flavor different Mexican food? One reason that the articles mentioned was the simpleness of it and how easy it was to store tortillas for a long time. Structurally, the Mexican taco is just a tortilla with fillings of any sort. Making it into fast food -- Taco Bell -- and keeping ingredients in the fridge for a long time was easier and simpler with the concept of Mexican food. Another reason I believe American consumers stayed after trying Mexican food for the first time are the flavors and ingredients. To create an amazing taco or burrito or nachos, only 8 main ingredients are necessary: Flour (or any grain) , some sort of protein, onion, cilantro, tomato, avocado, lime and seasoning. Then, combining the small ingredient list into endless options is extremely easy. The freshness of all the ingredients together and the uniqueness of the taco seasoning all adds up to an easy and delicious meal. The final reason I believe this cultural food became so widespread was because of businessmen. Glen Bell was one of the first to recognize how easy creating a fast food restaurant with tacos would be. All that was needed was a few main ingredients, and then a majority of the menu items could be made!

The crunchy fried taco shell was another essential part of the success of Mexican food in the American food industry. It is no secret that most Americans love fried/processed foods, and frying a staple in Mexican cuisine was an easy way for restaurant owners to appeal to a wider audience while making tortillas have a longer shelf life. Even though Taco Bell and Chipotle aren't looked at as "authentic Mexican cuisine", they have undoubtably made their way into American food forever and I, for one, will not stop loving the fresh and flavor food category.