Bacon Jalapeno Mummies Recipe -Butter Your Biscuit (2024)

FAQs

Who invented bacon wrapped jalapenos? ›

While early versions of this party recipe are believed to have been first served in Texas in the 1970s or 1980s, the official commercial trademark for “Jalapeño Poppers” wasn't officially registered until 1992 by Anchor Food Products of Appleton, Wisconsin.

It originated in Ancient Rome, where it was made from pork bellies known as “petaso”. The pork was salted, smoked, and eaten with other staples of the Roman diet such as bread and cheese. From there, bacon made its way to England in the Middle Ages, where it quickly became a very popular dish.

The name jalapeño is Spanish for "from Xalapa", the capital city of Veracruz, Mexico, where the pepper was traditionally cultivated.

According to the brand, the current owners' grandmother, Mindie Heironimus, invented the treat as a way to use surplus jalapeños. In 1922, she pickled the jalapeños the same way she did with cucumbers, and the family took to calling the sweet and spicy result Cowboy Candy®.

The origins of these fiery chilies can be traced to the region that is now modern-day Mexico. Archaeological evidence suggests that peppers, including jalapeños, were cultivated by the ancient indigenous peoples of Mexico as far back as 6000 BCE.

Jalapeno peppers made their way to the United States in the 16th century. Spanish explorers brought them over, and they quickly gained popularity in Texas and other southern states. Jalapeno peppers were used in Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, such as nachos, tacos, and chili con carne.

In 1910, Jimenez Guerra, a descendant of Spanish colonists from Veracruz, began experimenting with ways to use native jalapeños. At the time, the pepper was known as “chile cuaresmeño.” Salmuera (or “salty water”), oil and vinegar often were used to preserve a variety of vegetables.