Popcorn Facts

The first thing that you notice once you enter a theatre premise is various stalls with counters selling popcorns along with other snacks and beverages. People wait for the interval to go grab their tubs of flavoured popcorns along with some refreshing beverage. Flavours like caramel, cheese and salt and pepper have made popcorns so famous that people have started associating movies with popcorns. You agree emptying packets of snowflake-like popcorns while enjoying the thrilling scenes of the movie, but has it ever crossed your mind to ponder over the history or origin of the snack that you delightfully pop in, the reason for it being fluffy and soft and/or about its structure. Popcorns are said to be originated from Mexico somewhere in the year 1948 from a bat cave. There have been several researches on the origin and nature of popcorns and this article brings forth many such interesting facts on popcorn for you to share your intellect the next time you share a light moment over popcorn.

Interesting Facts On Popcorn

• Zea mays everta is what popcorn is scientifically known as. Popcorn is the only form of corn that bursts out, thanks to the moisture present in the kernels. The moisture present in the kernel is somewhere between 13-15 percent.
• Due to the increasing popularity of popcorns, 19^th of January has been marked as the National Popcorn Day, while  7^th of April is marked as Caramel Popcorn Day in the USA. October is celebrated as the National Popcorn Popping month.
• Popcorns are generally available in two types, the mushroom and the snowflake. It is the snowflakes that are famous commercially since they gets fluffier and even look better after popping out. Mushroom popcorns are used by candy makers.
• Some of the oldest popcorns are believed to be located in Bat cave which is in New Mexico region somewhere in 1948. However, something known as kettle popcorns has an ancient history of recognition. Kettle popcorns were first seen in 1700’s, made by the settlers in large cast iron kettles, from which the popcorn derived its name.
• It was during the Great Depression in the 1890s that popcorn became world famous. During those days, it was sold in bags of 5-10 cents each.
• Popcorns reached the colonies when it was introduced by the Wampanoag Native Americans on the first thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The flavoring of popcorn was started here by Native American tribes who initially started flavoring popcorn with dry herbs and spices. They also used popcorn in soup preparation and had it with beer and made headdresses and corsages out of it.
• It was Christopher Columbus who introduced the famous snack to the Europeans in the late 15^th century.
• Charles Creators is believed to have invented the first commercial popcorn making machine in Chicago in 1885. The business he established is believed to still manufacture popcorn machines and other equipments.
• Popcorns started being served in movie theatres since 1912, after a lot of protest by theatre owners to the popcorn carnivals held in the late 19^th century. Initially the business owners failed to foresee the amount of profit popcorns can bring to their business.
• Popcorns are high in fibre but low in calories, sodium, and sugar and are fat free, though enough oil, sugar, butter and salt is added during the preparation process.
• Americans are said to consume 17 billion quarts of popcorn every year, enough to fill the empire state building 18 times.
• Nebraska is the highest popcorn producing state producing around 250 million pounds per year.
• There are 5 contenders that are currently competing for the title of “Popcorn Capital of the World”. These states are Van Buren; Indiana, Marino; Ohio, Ridgway; Illinois, Schaller; Iowa and North Loup; Nebraska.
• The Guinness Book of World Records states that the world’s largest popcorn ball produced was measured to be 12 feet in diameter. This ball used 2,000 pounds of corn, 40,000 pounds of sugar, 280 gallons of corn syrup and 400 gallons of water to make it.