, 1935-03-24
TABASCO HAS
EARLY HISTORY

In 1852 q man by the name OF
Gleason (who had been with Cen
eral Scott during the capture OF
Mexico City in ls47 and who had
remained in Mexico after the close
of the Mexican war with the United
States) came to New Orleans. and
while there gave 10 z. McIlhenny
the seeds Of some peppers, which
ne said had an especially fine flavor,
and grew in the State Of TabaSco,
Mexico. These pepper seeds we're
planted by Nj. McIlhenny al the
family plantation Avery Island, near
New IBERIA. and the quality OF the
peppers was so good that he con-
tinued TO grow them year by year
in the kitchen garden for table use.
as both he ard his father-in-laW.
Judge Avery. were fond Of highly
seasoned food.
During the war between the North
and South, and after the occupa-
ton OF Louisiana by the Federal
troops. the Avery and McIlhenny
families were baniShed from their
home state and sent by General
Banks 70 Austin, Texas. but return
ed to their plantation home az
avery Island at the close OF the war.
Like all Southerners these two fam
lies were financially ruined by the
war. and being without funds with
which to buy the things that help
TO make food tasty, Mr.. McIlhenny
oegan experimenting with making
condiments from the herbs and pep
perS found growing about the old
home. Among other plants that had
survived the lack Of cultivation dur
ing his absence were some pepper
bushes like those that grew from the
seed Gleason had given him. With
the pulp Of these peppers as a base.
ne made a hot aromatic sauce for
table use. and gave some of IL to
his friends. who liked ii so mucn
that Mr.. McIlhenny continued max
ing It,
Among those who tried the sauce
and liked It was General Hazard.
who was Federal administrator for
Southwest Louisiana. General Haz-
zard induced Mr.. McIlhenny to
make a sufficient amount Of the
sauce. 50 he could take some North
on his next trip. This was done. and
General Hazard gave some OF the
sauce TO his brother. X. G. Hazard,
who was head OF the largest whole
sale grocery house in New York. E.
G. Hazard was 50 impressed with
the value Of the sauce as a food
Seasoner. that he got In touch with
McIlhenny and induced him 70
pack the sauce for market. and give
his firm the agency for its distribu-
ton IN the United States. Mr.. Nc
Ilhenny consented TO do this and
Ia 1868. Tabasco Sauce put I'D IN
New Iberia, Louisiana, was offered
the public.
ance that time Tabasco. through
It's nigh value as a piquant season.
ing has become world wide In its
distribution.
In 1872 an agency was establish
ed IN London for marketing Tabasco
IN Europe. and this sauce on each
bottle OF which are the words Ia
baSco. New iberia. Louisiana. can
now be found in every civilized coun-
try In the world. An instance slow
ing the wide distribution of Tabasco
is given in Lord Kitchener'S report
OF the British government after his
conquest OF Khartoum. Nhis report
states TabaSco was found further
in the desert than any other civ
ilized food product.
TabaSco is a pure pepper sauce
made without cooking. but BY FERN
entation in oaken casks, and II re-
quires the heat OF two summers TO
properly ferment It. and give II its
mellow delightful flavor. Tabasco Is
especially valuable for seasoning
eggs. AS the English say. 1T makes
a good egg better and a bad egg
Tabasco has the greatest value
when used in the kitchen. A few
drops IN your gravies gives the
meat an exceptionally fine flavor.
II also adds a wonderful flavor TO
mashed potatoes, or. when used In
connection with butter on baked
potatoes. When cooking eggs In any
form. TabaSco should always ~
used in order TO bring out the his
est flavor OF the egg. A little Ia
basco in soups when cooking adds
greatly TO their palatableneSS. On
the table a few drops IN your break
fast eggs and milk changes the
flavor TO such an extent. that the
food is much more palatable.
HE-4M -Ww- - 49, wr%2mN L.