La Cucaracha by Lalo Alcaraz for November 20, 2016

Are tacos Aztec or Maya? Maybe even Olmec?

The origins of the taco are really unknown. My theory is that it dates from the 18th century and the silver mines in Mexico, because in those mines the word “taco” referred to the little charges they would use to excavate the ore. These were pieces of paper that they would wrap around gunpowder and insert into the holes they carved in the rock face. When you think about it, a chicken taquito with a good hot sauce is really a lot like a stick of dynamite. The first references [to the taco] in any sort of archive or dictionary come from the end of the 19th century. And one of the first types of tacos described is called tacos de minero—miner’s tacos. So the taco is not necessarily this age-old cultural expression; it’s not a food that goes back to time immemorial.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/where-did-the-taco-come-from-81228162/#tK0pgXuI4ZAZUQfw.99Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGvFollow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter*

Carritos de taco en cada fortaleza.

I’m just sad that we won’t have a Taco Truck on every corner

Starting in January, I’m only eating food that comes from taco trucks for the next four years!

Now we know what they needed all those hearts for…:-P