Chili, Nachos and More: A History of Tex-Mex Cuisine
From nachos to fajitas, tamales and tacos, Tex-Mex cuisine is very popular. But where did it come from?
Mexico and what we know as Texas today have a long history together, since both were part of the Spanish colony of New Spain for hundreds of years.
It was during this time that some ingredients that are now used in Tex-Mex cuisine were first brought over by the Spanish. These include rice, olive oil, and herbs such as cilantro. They also brought livestock such as pigs and cows.
Mexico became independent in 1821, and Texas was part of Mexico until its own independence in 1836.
Texas' independence didn't last long, and it joined the United States in 1845.
As a US state, more ingredients became available in Texas. Over time, Tejanos — Texans of Mexican descent — started adding ingredients such as cheddar cheese and cumin to their recipes at home.
Much of the popularity of Tex-Mex cuisine is owed to a group of women called the "chili queens," who started selling bowls of chili con carne on the streets of San Antonio in the 1880s.
People in and around Texas visited San Antonio to try the famous chili, tamales and more, turning the city into the capital of Tex-Mex cuisine.
But at first, the word "Tex-Mex" wasn't used to refer to the cuisine. It was just an abbreviation for the Texas Mexican Railway, which opened in the late 19th century.
In the 1920s the word started being used to refer to Tejanos people. And only in the 1970s did "Tex-Mex" begin to refer to the cuisine that is now enjoyed around the world.
