There are a lot of Americans who believe that flour tortillas, shredded yellow cheese, and corn chips paired with a cheese dip are authentic Mexican cuisine. However, this is not 100 percent true, says a source.

Sizzling fajitas and tacos salads are appropriately designated as Tex-Mex food. Tex-Mex was not used to describe such foods before the 1960s. However, the origin of the term goes back to more than a hundred years when Texas was still part of Mexico. In the past years, multiple ingredients and cooking styles were combined along the border to create the Tex-Mex cuisine.

Here are some Tex-Mex facts you need to know:

Tex-Mex was Once Referred to as a Railroad

The term did not come from the discovery of any Mexican or Texan dish. Its origins date back to the abbreviation used for the Texas-Mexican Railway. In 1875, it was first chartered. During that time, it was used to transport sheep from the ranches of Texas to customers located in the Gulf of Mexico.

An English Gastronomer Popularized the Cuisine

Its first usage was in an article in The New York Times Magazine that was published in 1963. However, the term became famous after the book 'The Cuisines of Mexico' was published in 1972.

Kennedy used Tex-Mex to make a distinction between the Americanized version of Mexican Cuisine that was made famous in Texas and the authentic ones. At first, Mexican restaurants got offended with the term. However, they later embraced the term.

Spanish Missions Influenced Tex-Mex

The start of the Spanish mission in Mexico, the southwestern United States today, had combined Aztec staple ingredients such as beans with rice, a European ingredient. Additionally, Spanish people also brought many flavors that are essential in Tex-Mex dishes such as cilantro, onions, garlic, rice, and oregano.

Tejanos Combined the Cooking Styles of Mexicans and Americans

Tex-Mex cuisine began separating itself from authentic Mexican cuisine in the kitchens of Tejanos, who lived in the north of Rio Grande. Tejanos have descended from the original settlers of Tejas, who spoke Spanish. After becoming an independent state and becoming part of the United States of America, the Tejanos in Texas managed to maintain their identities. Over time, the Tejanos had transformed family recipes with the many flavors brought by the Americans who migrated to Texas.

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The Railroads Brought New Ingredients in the Northern Part of the Border

The arrival of the railroad had significantly affected America in a lot of ways. One of these changes involves the capabilities of transporting various food products and livestock across different parts of the region. Lard, molasses, flour, and bacon were transported into Texas ranches. Additionally, cast-iron skillets and Dutch ovens were also transported across the region. Mexican ranch cooks invented ways to use these new ingredients and tools to win the palates of the people in the region.