Popcorn

First Mention: 2000 BC

Use: Munchies/Movies

When we think of popcorn we immediately think of movies and Hollywood; of overly priced cinema food and of greasy and sticky floors in dark crowded rooms. It is as though popcorn and movies go hand in hand. However, the origins of popcorn not only pre-date Hollywood but also predate the histories of many modern civilizations.

No one knows for certain who exactly discovered popcorn (or his initial reaction to the surprising pop for that matter), but archeological digs have placed the earliest signs of popcorn to be in a cave in modern Mexico which dates to about 4000 years ago. Accounts from the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes also account for popcorn in the 1519 as the Spaniards explored the American civilizations at the time. There popcorn not only was used for food, but also as decorations.

Yet, if there was a time when popcorn was truly prominent in society it must have been in the United States following the Great Depression. The first commercial popcorn machine was created by Charles Cretors in 1885 so by the time of the Depression popcorn was not too hard to come by. Due to its low cost popcorn was a hit amongst families looking for a little luxury during the Depression. Various flavors including, cheese, caramel, spices, and more could be found. Furthermore during WWII, popcorn was turned into the patriotic snack in order to ration sugar. Support the troops, eat popcorn!

With the rise of Hollywood and the movie industry’s adoption of popcorn as the default snack to have, we as Americans have united our obsession of movies and drama with our love for snacking resulting in a consumption rate of popcorn unlike any other nation in this world.