America's favorite snack popping its way through history

by Amelia Gonzales, co-news editor

 

Popcorn popping: History of an American snack

Popcorn, one of the oldest and most popular snacks in America, has brought smiles, as well as nutrition, to all those who enjoy it.

At South Plains Mall, the Tropic Sun Snack Shop prides itself on their popcorn. Charlie Nickell, an employee at Tropic Sun, says that popcorn is a key item to their business. He also mentions that they never have to do anything to push the sales of popcorn, as it seems to sell itself.

“Popcorn is our hot profit item,” says Nickell. “If I ever want to draw in a crowd, all I have to do is to start popping popcorn and people are drawn in by the smell.”

Nickell says that older people tend to purchase popcorn more than those in any other age group. He adds that the fall and winter months are the highest profit months for popcorn. 

Tropic Sun does not add artificial flavoring or do anything extra to its popcorn. Nickell says that people enjoy their popcorn just how it is.

“The secret to how I make popcorn is with a lot of salt and a lot of butter,” says Nickell. “The more you eat, the more you want.”

According to Popcorn.org, archaeologists discovered popcorn ears in 1948 that have proven to be around 4,000 years old. Early explorers found that the natives of this country not only ate popcorn, but they also used it for décor in their costumes and rituals honoring their gods and loved ones who had passed away. Popcorn was a primary source of nutrition, especially for the Aztec Indians.

It is believed that in 1621, the first feast shared with the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians, also known as the first Thankgiving, included popcorn rather than corn on the cob. Corn was kept dried out at that time of the year, and popcorn was already a popular menu item for the Native Americans.

Popcorn was first popped over an open fire.  The first popcorn popping machinery dates back to the mid 1890s, when a popcorn machine was introduced at the World’s Columbian Expositions in Chicago, Il. Later, in 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer developed the microwave oven, experimenting a great deal with popcorn as well.

Compared to the rest of the world, the United States produces and consumes most of the popcorn today. The Midwest region of the United States has been found to be the best for producing popcorn. Among the leading states for popcorn producers are Indiana and Nebraska.

Through the years, popcorn has been the favorite American snack for many. One could go to town events and gatherings and easily find vendors selling popcorn from carriages that were wheeled around. Early on, people would pay anywhere from one cent to a nickel a bag.

When motion pictures were introduced in the 1920s, theaters saw tremendous revenue with popcorn. Theaters that failed to have popcorn available for moviegoers soon realized their business was plummeting. Today, nearly all major movie theaters sell popcorn to audiences.

During World War II, the American homefront was asked to conserve everything in order to ensure the supply and demands of all Americans, not just the wealthy. The federal government introduced rationing.  In May of 1943, sugar-buying cards were issued to families according to the number of members in each family. Where Americans were cutting back on candy, they were substituting with popcorn. Popcorn could be grown at home, thus supporting the American effort in the “Dig for Victory” campaign. The consumption of popcorn more than doubled from the time before the rationing cards were distributed.

Currently, popcorn.org estimates that Americans consume 54 quarts of popcorn per man, woman and child. After microwavable popcorn was introduced in 1980, the demand for popcorn, as well as microwaves, increased dramatically.

The endosperm, germ, and pericarp are the main parts of a popcorn kernel. The starch found in the endosperm provides energy for the embryo. Popcorn plants produce ears that contain hundreds of kernels.

Popcorn is at its final stage when the plant turns dry and brown. A black residue covers the kernels, indicating that the plant is no longer needed for nutrition. A machine then removes the kernels off the cob, and they are stored and protected by a 14-percent moisture level. The kernel is then cleaned and ready to be packaged.

When the moisture level is not high enough in the kernel, the kernel is incapable of popping. Thus, it has been given the nickname “old maid.” These “old maids” are able to eventually gain their moisture back by placing them in sealed containers filled with water. Once the level necessary for popping has been reached, the revived kernel can be popped.

Popcorn has been noted as a healthy snack to consume by the National Cancer Institute, the American Dental Association and the American Dietetic Association. The carbohydrates found in popcorn produce energy and help burn fat. Many people enjoy adding artificial ingredients, taking away from the whole grain nutrition popcorn can provide when it is in its original state.

As long as popcorn has been around, people have found numerous things to do with this snack. Artificial flavoring can be added, producing hundreds of different flavors of popcorn such as Tex-Mex Mix, Popcorn crusted macaroni and cheese, light yummy yogurt popcorn, and Thai peanut and popcorn crusted chicken. Many have put popcorn on string and used it as Christmas garland on a Christmas tree and numerous other decorations for various holidays.

Over time, popcorn has proven to be an American snack that consumers look for almost anywhere they go to. Although popcorn is a healthy snack that dates back thousands of years, it still proves to be inexpensive and enjoyable.