What are the origins and history of popcorn? Who came up with popcorn? How did popcorn evolve to become a snack food enjoyed by millions of people all over the world? We will answer these great questions in this blog post.
The quintessential “pop pop pop” heard throughout the kitchen at My Popcorn Kitchen gets our hearts racing and mouths watering. We’re definitely popcorn enthusiasts and love everything about the history of popcorn from the kernel to the flavored filled bags of our freshly popped gourmet snack. It’s the perfect treat for just about any occasion and super fun to celebrate with. Where would we be without popcorn?
You might be surprised to know the extensive history of popcorn. While the commercial side of popcorn popping is rather recent, there’s cultures who indulged in it long before American settlers took hold and mass produced the irresistible goodies.
Who popped the first kernel?
As with most things in history, the official first person to pop a kernel is debatable. There’s evidence of popcorn found in New Mexico as old as 5600 years and Mexican funeral urns that were decorated with depictions of a maize god with popped kernels in the headdress from 300 A.D. Many cultures throughout South America also have artifacts relating to their love of popcorn.
In America, Native Americans also had an affinity for the treat. When French explorers came to the new world, they too found popcorn being made by the Iroquois Indians and quickly fell in love. As America was settled, popcorn became more and more popular. It was once even eaten with milk and sugar, similar to a breakfast cereal.
Modern Marvels of Popcorn
Before the name popcorn was ever used, it was sold as the name Pearl or NonPareil throughout the early 1800’s. The popularity of the tasty treat soared by the 1840s in America. It wasn’t until 1848 that the term “popped corn” was officially written down.
At this same time, the first popcorn recipe was also recorded. Daniel Browne combined kernels with lard or butter in a frying pan over a grill. Once each kernel popped, he then added salt or sugar. While this method did work, it had its drawbacks. Butter tended to burn before the pan became hot enough to pop the kernels and lard left a greasy mess. It was a great first attempt at a recipe.
By the 1890’s, the first popcorn maker was finally created by Chicago candy store owner, Charles Cretor. He discovered he could use similar steam powered machines for roasting nuts to pop the corn. Eventually, he was even able to create smaller versions of the machine for street cart use.
Over the next several decades, the popularity of popcorn ascended. The popcorn business even soared, without falter, through the great depression because the price of sugar rose drastically. While other candies and treats became expensive, popcorn was always affordable.
How did popcorn make its way into the movies?
Could you imagine going to the movies today and not grabbing a piping hot bag of buttery popped corn? Well, initially popcorn was nowhere to be found inside the movies. The owners of movie theaters did not see the appeal. During The Great Depression, movie theater owners finally recognized the popularity and affordability. The owners that did move forward with the costly construction within their theaters to add popcorn makers made their investment back fast. Popcorn was seen as a luxury that many people could actually afford during the tough times.
And where would be without the name Orville Redenbacher? The company launched in 1970, and by 1981 they had introduced the first patented microwavable popcorn bag. Currently, Americans eat roughly 17 billion quarts of popped corn each year, and that number just continues to climb.
What is our Favorite Popcorn Recipe?
Choosing a favorite gourmet popcorn recipe is like choosing your favorite child. However, if you pull our arm hard enough, we just might choose the Beer Cheddar recipe above the rest. And our customers agree! It’s our top seller and positively scrumptious. The flavor of the creamy cheddar with the family friendly beer seasoning just dances around your taste buds, making it irresistible to set the bag down.
Why Buy Gourmet Popcorn?
Since the 1980s, many variations of popcorn have been created, eaten and enjoyed. My Popcorn Kitchen just loves to indulge in the gourmet type, which has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years alone. In fact, the gourmet popcorn market is reaching heights of $1 billion annually. From savory cheeses to nuts and caramels, there’s a bag of popcorn for every type of taste.
If you thought fancy cupcakes were trendy, then you are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with gourmet popcorn. Any holiday, special occasion or event can easily be celebrated with gourmet popcorn. The flavors and recipes are endless and, with our priority on the highest quality ingredients and attention to detail, our popcorn is sure to be hit.
The history of popcorn is fascinating and still progressing. Gourmet popcorn has really become popular and for good reasons. There’s something for everyone and a flavor to satisfy those that prefer a classic flavor all the way to the sweetest tooth. Shop our gourmet popcorn flavors and discover how we’ve taken the history of popcorn and turned it in to a fun treat your family and friends will enjoy.