The History of Popcorn Explained
Popcorn's magical transformation from hard seeds to fluffy puffs emanates from a delightful rhythm and aroma. This popular snack traces its roots to a tall grass called Teosinte, grown by indigenous tribes in today's southern Mexico around 9,000 years ago. These tribes selectively bred types of maize, leading to the popcorn variation we enjoy today.
Exploding kernels have an intriguing science behind them. Water and starch are sealed inside each kernel and transformed into steam when heated. This expanding steam escalates the internal pressure, causing the pericarp, the kernel's hard shell, to explode. This dramatic process releases the compounds responsible for popcorn's tantalizing scent.
After initial hesitation, European settlers adopted and broadened the cultivation of popcorn with wire over fire baskets in the 1830s, simplifying the unruly popping process. Popcorn quickly earned a status as an affordable, enjoyable snack, inspiring many delicious recipes.
The 1893 World’s Fair was a significant turning point with the debut of the first popcorn machine. Street vendors proliferated, though interestingly, popcorn was initially ominously absent from movie theaters. However, the Great Depression and the advent of sound in films led to popcorn being adopted as a cheap luxury snack for movie-goers. These days, popcorn sales significantly boost theater profits, selling at a massive 1,000% markup.
Popcorn was enjoyed all over the Americas in the last century, with the introduction of microwaveable popcorn in the 1980s further amplifying its popularity. US popcorn strains have been developed to pop into different shapes like “mushrooms” and “butterflies.” Popcorn has made immense strides, with kernels capable of expanding up to 50 times their original size.