Viva La Evolucion! The Evolution of Mexican Cuisine
Mexican cuisine as it is known today has a fascinating history that includes a connection with explorer Christopher Columbus. Many students learned that “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue” and discovered America, but he never actually reached those shores. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas. Columbus’ journey brought him to many Caribbean islands, including Jamaica and Hispaniola, where he found the precious metals, new foods and spices he’d been seeking. Although he had hoped for a faster route east, Columbus found himself in a place he named the West Indies, an island grouping with climate perfect for growing sugar, tobacco and cotton—as well as a rich assortment of spices, including nutmeg/mace, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. In the years following Columbus’ journey, many European explorers made their way west into Mexico and South America, beginning a trading partnership which ultimately changed the culinary landscape in countries on both sides of the Atlantic.