By Charlie Randall, Contributing Writer
Salsa has become one of the most popular condiments or food enhancing products in the modern world. This delicious combination of peppers, tomatoes, onions, and sometimes many other ingredients, can be recognized by a mile away and is presumably loved by millions of people. However, it is beyond just a sauce to dip chips in. Salsa has a delicious past and is still equally delicious to its present-day fame.
So where did salsa come from? Mexico, obviously, but it actually dates back to the Aztec, Inca and Mayan empires that occupied the land that would eventually become Mexico. Its emergence in European culture only became evident when the Spanish arrived in North America. In the time of Cortes, the Spanish wrote back to the mainland talking about a sauce used on venison, turkey and lobster (however, it is interesting that the use of tomatoes was not mentioned). In 1571, this beautiful concoction became known as Salsa, Spanish for “sauce” by Alonso de Molina. Now, this salsa was probably different from the Pace Picante you purchase at Walmart, but the function and most of the ingredients were likely the same, such as peppers, onions and citrus.
Fast forward almost 400 years and it is now the 1940s when salsa consumption in the USA expanded beyond the Hispanic dominated areas. Behaving like a great conqueror, salsa first took over the southwest, then later, the rest of the country. The 1940s are also important in the history of salsa because this is when a very ambitious company, Pace Foods, was operating in San Antonio, and began making and exporting salsa as fast as they could, even further broadening the consumption and love for this fantastic food.
What else is so great about salsa? Well, for starters, it is much healthier than other condiments as it is typically made with real fruits and vegetables, contains very little fat, sugars, and cholesterol – thus, making it a staple in some weight-loss diets. It is essentially like a salad, only you feel satisfied after eating it.
It also has a rich historical element and is used in various cultural celebrations, particularly those honoring Hispanic and Native American communities. If these reasons aren’t ‘spicy’ enough, May is recognized as National Salsa Month. That’s correct, salsa has an entire month dedicated to its history, taste and overall lovability.
So, what do St. Bonaventure University students have to say about salsa? Self-proclaimed salsa expert AJ Powers, a senior strategic communications major said, “Salsa is my little slice of heaven with a spicy kick from hell.” Powers said his two favorite salsas are Pace Picante as well as Allegany’s own Don Tequila’s homemade salsa.
There are also some unique salsas featuring exotic fruits like mangos, prickly pears, pineapple and blood oranges. This incredible sauce that has brought smiles to millions, if not, billions of faces is an important staple for any household and may in fact be the most historically and culturally important and renowned condiment ever.
randalco18@bonaventure.edu
