By Brandon Green
With the popularity of fast food chains like Taco Bell, Chipotle Mexican Grill and California Tortilla, the traditional Mexican burrito has been changed to fit the American consumer.
Whether it is for Chipotle’s signature burrito or Taco Bell’s burrito supreme, University of Maryland students come into these fast food restaurants by the droves to get what most consider “Mexican food.” However, contrary to popular belief, the burritos that are found in restaurants in America are not the same found in parts of Mexico.
A Mexican native and an employee of Chipotle Mexican Grill near University of Maryland, Andres Martinez, explained that in his home town of Guadalajara you cannot find a burrito like the ones he makes every day at Chipotle.
“It’s funny how many people think that a burrito is traditional Mexican food when my mother never even cooked one for me as a kid,” said Martinez. “The burritos that you find in my hometown are a lot smaller with thinner wheat flour tortillas. They only have rice and beans or meat in them.”
Burritos in America are typically larger than the ones found in Mexico. American burritos tend to include more ingredients like sour cream, cheese, salsa, and guacamole rather than just the meat and beans in Mexico.
San Francisco was a major city in transforming the burrito from what it traditionally was to what is today. Increasing the size of the burrito and adding an array of ingredients trace back to San Francisco’s Mission district, famous for their taquerias (taco shops).
“San Francisco did to burritos what New York and Chicago did to Pizza, it Americanized it,” said Erika Espinoza a junior at the University.
With Americans around the country satisfied in having cheese, rice, beans, lettuce, meat and sour cream on their burritos the older traditional version was lost.
“I probably wouldn’t even eat a burrito if it was small thin and only included meat and rice,” said Dave Bancewicz sophomore architecture major.
In Mexico the burrito is not even called a burrito. They are called “tacos de harina” (wheat flour tacos) and are only found in the northern parts of Mexico.
Burritos were created by a man name Juan Mendez during the Mexican Revolution, according to Mexican tradition. Mendez used a donkey to transport his food to his taco street stand and he wrapped his food in large homemade tortillas to keep them warm and covered. The word caught on in town of this new way to transport food, and soon the U.S. had burritos, which literally translates to “little donkey”.
From a humble taco stand to large Mexican food chains, burritos have changed the way people eat food.
“It’s funny how when America adopts something they usually change it, this time though I think it’s for the better,” said Espinoza.
