Popcorn: Humankind’s All Time Favorite Snack?

Popcorn is not a passing fad. In fact, popcorn has proved itself more unwavering and enduring than civilization as a whole. Dating back tens of thousands of years, scientists have found fossilized popcorn in caves, suggesting that some of our earliest ancestors enjoyed the same snack we do today. When Hernando Cortes invaded the Aztec Empire in Mexico in the 16^th century, he saw popcorn for the first time, not only being eaten, but being used as a decorative accessory on headdresses, jewelry, and offerings.

It seems that the Aztecs weren’t the only ones to stumble upon the delicious discovey; some historians speculate that Native Americans even brought popped corn to the first Thanksgiving with the colonists. It has been documented that colonists began eating popcorn as a breakfast food, much like the cereal we eat today with sugar, cream, or milk.

Once planting corn became more common in the United States in the mid-1800s, popcorn’s popularity really took off. An inexpensive, versatile food, popcorn could be made easily by just putting oil on a corn cob and eating the popped kernels right off. The first popcorn machine was then invented in 1885, putting vendors outside of stores to attract attention.

Of course, as movie theatres grew in popularity, America’s love affair with movies and popcorn blossomed. The introduction of the television into homes then boosted sales as families found they could create their own movie-like experience right at home. 

Today popcorn is possibly just as important to our modern culture as it was to the ancient Aztecs or Native Americans. Whether it’s eaten as a salty movie snack, caramel corn at baseball games and carnivals, or hung around Christmas trees as garland, we’ve incorporated this fluffy confection into our culture for good.