Tabasco sauce is a culinary contribution of the Southern United States.
History
Tabasco was created in the 1860s by Edmund McIlhenny, an avid gardener who had been given the seeds of hot peppers from Mexico. Commercial production began in 1868, when McIlhenny sold around 650 bottles.
Origin of the Name
Edmund McIlhenny's wife, Mary Eliza Avery, was the daughter of McIlhenny's closest friend Daniel Dudley Avery, also known as Judge Avery. Avery and his family owned a sugar plantation at Petite Anse Island, now known as Avery Island. It was on this island that the sauce was first made and McIlhenny originally wanted to name it Petite Anse Sauce, but Avery objected. And so the name was changed to Tabasco, which is reported to be a word of Mexican-Indian origin meaning "land where the soil is humid."
Production Process
The pepper sauce is still made on Avery Island in Louisiana, the site where McIlhenny first began the business. The peppers used in Tabasco are picked by hand when they reach the perfect shade of deep red. They are then mashed and mixed with salt that also comes from Avery Island. The mash is transferred to oak barrels and allowed to ferment, after which it is aged for up to three years.
Global Reach
Tabasco sauce is sold in 160 countries and is supposedly a favorite of the Royal Family of Britain. The company was awarded a Royal Warrant, a mark of recognition to individuals or companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years to the Queen. Tabasco sauce has been sent into space on board the Space Shuttle, Skylab and the International Space Station.
Fun Fact
The company's president and CEO, Paul McIlhenny, is the great-grandson of the founder and the sixth member of the family to have run the business.
Tags: Avery Island, Edmund McIlhenny, Petite Anse, Tabasco sauce