American Natives

• Europeans were introduced to tamales when the Spaniards conquered South America.Bandera espa?¡Àola image by Raulmah?3n from Fotolia.com
  
  Early Latin American civilizations were warring communities, and the idea of the tamale probably spread with traveling troops. The earliest record of the food is from 5000 BC, although they most likely were around earlier, perhaps as early as 7000 BC. The Mayans settled the modern-day Yucatan Peninsula while the Aztecs developed in the Valley of Mexico where Mexico City is currently. The Incan empire stretched from Columbia through Chile in South America.
  
  

Function

• Corn, or maize, husks were first used.corn-cobs image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  With fighting soldiers come very hungry stomachs. At first, women were brought to the war camps in order to make food for the warriors. Traditional meals could not be made quickly enough so the women created tamales. They could be made ahead of time, packed and easily transported, and quickly heated.
  
  

Varieties

• Even banana leaves are used as husks for tamales.hojas-2229 image by Paco Ayala from Fotolia.com
  
  Today tamales are mostly filled with meat such as pork or beef. But regionally there are endless varieties. Rabbit, frog and turkey meat can stuff a tamale along with peppers, mushrooms and nuts. Dessert tamales with chocolate, raisins or pineapple are also made. Even the husks differ from avocado and banana leaves to soft tree bark. Tamales can be grilled, baked, steamed or even barbecued.