Popcorn Facts and Tidbits

It’s no surprise that a snack food we all enjoy so much would have a rich list of facts and tidbits:

Ears of popping corn have been discovered in caves that date back over 4000 years Corn was cooked in lard during the 1800’s. The popped product was skimmed as it rose to the top.

In 1996 a 12 foot popcorn ball was constructed. It used over 2000 pounds of popcorn.

Popcorn can be strung as a popular Christmas tree garland.

Cretors and Co. Invented the first mobile popcorn machines in 1885. They are still in business today.

Some American Indian tribes believed that there was a single spirit residing inside each unpopped kernel of popcorn. As the kernels were heated and heated they would shake with anger. When they got angry enough, the spirits would come screaming out in a burst of hot air.

16th century explorer Hernando Cortez was met by Aztecs wearing popcorn as decoration on their headdresses.

When the early colonists had the first Thanksgiving on October 15, 1621, an Indian named Quadequina brought an offering for the feast. A giant deerskin bag of popped corn.

Popcorn was served like cereal by colonial housewives. It was eaten for breakfast with cream and sugar.

The Albert Dickinson Co. Introduced Little Buster and Big Buster Popcorn. They are some of the first name brands of popcorn.

American Pop Corn Company and founder Cloid H. Smith produced the first nationwide name brand popcorn, Jolly Time. The brand’s name grew rapidly based on its Guaranteed to Pop statement.

As a result of sugar rationing during WWII many sweets were unavailable. Americans consumed as much as 3 times as much popcorn during this period.

Each American eats an average of 54 quarts of popcorn each year.