The Evolution Of Authentic Mexican Food

Here at Benito’s, we love Mexican food, but we often come across customers who have questions about the history of Mexican food and how it evolved to its current form.

As it turns out, this is a fascinating story, and it’s one that can truly enhance your enjoyment of and appreciation for authentic Mexican food.

The Evolution of Mexican Food Through the Centuries

The long history of Mexican food is immediately evident when you consider its primary ingredients: corn, beans, and chilies.

The reason these ingredients are featured so prominently in Mexican food is that they were easy to grow in ancient Aztec gardens, and hearty enough to preserve and dry reliably.

For centuries, the ancient Aztecs had a food culture that was completely their own, and totally unknown to outside populations. The Spanish conquistadors entered ancient Mexico City in the 1500s. There they found a group of people eating exotic food and cooking in exotic ways.

The conquistadors were so taken with these methods that they brought many of them back to their own cities and cultures. There they added ingredients native to them, such as olive oil, cumin, and citrus. In the centuries thereafter, Mexican food was influenced by the French, and several other societies, as well.

Over the years, the traditional Mexican food consumed by the Aztecs underwent a series of changes to become the TexMex we know today.

Tex-Mex: Today’s “Authentic Mexican Food”

The type of Mexican food that people are most familiar with today is Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is the type of Mexican food served in most American Mexican restaurants.

Although it may seem modern, Tex-Mex food can actually trace its roots back hundreds of years. This was a time when Spanish and Mexican traders, ranchers, and trappers combined their traditional foods with those of Anglo explorers. While Tex-Mex was a staple of the south for decades before it became mainstream, it rose to popularity in America during the 1970s, when it was considered trendy among young people.

Despite the rise of this popular twist on true Mexican cuisine, we are proud at Benito’s to distinguish ourselves by serving only traditionally authentic Mexican cuisine. No Tex-Mex in sight!

Why the Evolution of Authentic Mexican Food Has Taken So Long

While Mexican food has been around for centuries, it has only recently caught on in America. Why is this?

According to many food historians, before the 1980s very few American chefs understood what comprised traditional Mexican food, much less how to go about making it.

Luckily, a choice handful of chefs and food aficionados began to change this.

After living, working, or studying in Mexico, these individuals brought the ingredients and cooking tactics of authentic Mexican food back to the states. It was then adapted for an Anglo population and quickly gained popularity.

Benito’s: Your Source for Truly Authentic Mexican Food

While the history of Mexican food is varied and diverse, Benito’s remains one of the best places to get truly authentic Mexican food that pays homage to all of this cuisine’s roots and histories. Come visit us today for a culinary experience that will delight your taste buds and your love of history!