Food historians speculate that chili originated in Texas-Mexico border towns and spread north. In the 1880s San Antonio’s downtown was famous for Hispanic outdoor vendors called “chili queens.” At Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition Texas-style chili was popular, and at St.
Have You Ever Wondered…
- Where was chili invented?
- What are the most common ingredients in chili?
- What does chili con carne mean?
When the weather turns cold outside, many kids look forward to special treats to warm their tummies when they come inside from making snow angels and sledding. After all, is there any better way to thaw yourself from the inside out than a warm cup of hot cocoa?
If youre lucky, there might be another special treat bubbling in a large pot on the stove in the kitchen. As you sniff the air, you detect the aroma of meat, peppers, and spices. A quick glance inside the pot reveals the presence of a thick soup or stew thats sure to delight. What are we talking about? Today were WONDERing about chili!
If youre a fan of chili, you know that this spicy dish comes in an almost-endless number of varieties. Just attend any chili cook-off and youll be amazed at the versions youll see. From mild to hot, chili can feature different types of peppers, meats, spices, and even beans and noodles in some versions.
But where exactly did this spicy dish first come into existence? Some would say that ancient man probably figured out how to combine meat and peppers into a tasty stew thousands of years ago.
Myths and tall tales are not hard to find when it comes to the origin of chili. For example, one popular tale tells of a Spanish nun, Sister Mary of Agreda, who supernaturally appeared to Native Americans in the early 1600s and returned with the first recipe for chili: chili peppers, venison (deer meat), onions, and tomatoes.
The modern dish we know as chili, also known as chili con carne (chili with meat), does appear to have roots in the American West, particularly the State of Texas. An old legend holds that immigrants from the Canary Islands brought a recipe for chili with them when they settled San Antonio in the early 1700s. Historians do know that chili was a popular meal amongst cowboys and pioneers on the Western frontier.
In the 1880s, chili stands became popular in San Antonio. Women known as “chili queens” served “bowls o red” to customers, and the fame of chili con carne began to spread across the country. The 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago featured the dish at the San Antonio Chili Stand.
Since that time, chili has become a popular dish all over the United States. Its association with Texas, however, remains quite strong. In fact, the Texas legislature named chili the official state dish in 1977.
Today, playful debates rage at chili cook-offs regarding which ingredients compose “real” chili. For many Texans, a “bowl o red” contains nothing more than chili peppers, meat, and spices. Midwestern versions often add beans and additional fat into the mix. Its not uncommon to find regional varieties of chili that also feature tomato sauce and/or pasta noodles.
Chili cook-off attendees will often create their own unique version of chili by choosing specific ingredients they feel will create the most intense flavor. Youll find chilis with different types of meat, including beef, sausage, turkey, and venison. Vegetarian chilis are also popular, replacing the meat with a variety of flavorful vegetables. Chili chefs will also customize the spiciness of their chili by selecting a variety of chili peppers that they believe will give their chili the perfect amount of spice and heat.
Did you get it?
Brrr! Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is really, really cold!
Hungry yet? Grab a few friends or family members to help you explore the following tasty activities:
- Ask an adult friend or family member to take you on a field trip to a local grocery store. Search the aisles until you find where they keep their canned chili. How many different varieties of chili can you find? How do the different types of chili differ? Make a list of the different combinations you find. If possible, buy a couple of cans of chili to take home to taste test. Which one do you like best?
- Chili cook-offs are festive events that occur all over the United States. If youre up for making some chili at home, check out 12 Easy Chili Recipes online. Choose one and then give it your own unique flair by adding your own special ingredients. Share your chili with a friend or family member. What do they think? Could it win an award at a chili cook-off?
- How do you think chili came about? Knowing what you know about its basic ingredients, use your imagination to help you craft a story that tells the history of how you think someone might have first created a mixture of ingredients to create the first pot of chili. Your story can be as imaginative and creative as you want it to be. When youre finished, share it with a friend or family member. Do they think your story could have some truth to it?
A History of Chili | Discover the Origins of this Tasty Dish
FAQ
Where did chili originate?
Is chili American or Mexican?
Was chili invented in San Antonio?
Is chili originally from India?
Where does Chili come from?
Chili or chili pepper originally comes from the Americas, specifically from countries like Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. It is believed that the chili pepper has been cultivated for almost 9,000 years in these regions. The chili has since become a staple ingredient in many cuisines around the world due to its unique and pungent flavor.
Where did chili peppers come from?
The use of chili peppers can be traced back to the ancient civilizations of Mexico, such as the Aztecs and Mayans, who cultivated various types of chili peppers and incorporated them into their culinary traditions. READ MORE: The Aztec Empire: The Rapid Rise and Fall of the Mexica
Where does chile verde come from?
Chile verde hails from northern Mexico, and it consists of pork chunks, green chilis, onions, and tomatillos. Photo by Yoly. The International Chili Society, which holds the World Championship Chili Cook-off, divides chili into the following categories: traditional red, chili verde, homestyle chili, and veggie chili.
What is the origin story of chili?
Some foods are so iconic they have more than one origin story, maybe with a little bit of truth in all of them. One of the more esoteric origin stories of chili is that of la dama de azul, or the lady in blue, a mysterious nun who appeared to the indigenous population of Texas and New Mexico in the 1600s.