While our hearts (and our herd) are firmly rooted in the rolling hills of the Devonshire countryside, we never pass up an opportunity to celebrate culinary history. 24th February, marks National Tortilla Chip Day, a celebration of a snack that has evolved from ancient Mesoamerican roots to become a global favourite.
The Fascinating Origins of the Tortilla Chip
The story of the tortilla chip begins long before it became a staple of modern gatherings. Its ancestor, the corn tortilla, dates back thousands of years to the indigenous cultures of Mexico. However, the triangular chip we recognize today has a more recent, resourceful origin.
In the late 1940s, Rebecca Webb Carranza, president of the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles, sought a way to reduce waste. She discovered that by cutting up rejected tortillas into triangles and frying them, she created a snack that was both delicious and sustainable. This spirit of resourcefulness is something we hold dear at Langage Farm, where we balance our 900-year history with modern, eco-friendly practices on our working farmstead.
A Global Fusion: The Devonshire Connection
You might wonder how a traditional Mexican snack finds its way into a conversation about an award-winning Devon dairy. At Langage Farm, we believe the finest ingredients deserve to be paired together, regardless of their origin.
While the tortilla chip provides the crunch, it is the accompaniment that provides the character. In the 11th century, it was the monks of Tavistock who first paired bread with cream and jam—creating the legendary Devon Cream Tea. In that same spirit of pairing, we find that our fresh, handmade dairy products provide a uniquely British twist to this international snack:
Handmade Soured Cream: Our Jersey and Guernsey cows produce milk of exceptional richness, making our soured cream the perfect, velvety cooling agent for a spicy batch of nachos.
A Savoury Twist on Tradition: While we are world-famous for our clotted cream (always cream first, of course!), its thick, luxurious texture makes it an incredible base for a homemade chive and garlic dip that puts standard supermarket offerings to shame.
Celebrating Award-Winning Quality
Just as the tortilla chip rose from a simple factory idea to an international icon, Langage Farm has grown through a dedication to quality. Year after year, we are proud winners of numerous awards, recognised for our commitment to using local people and the freshest ingredients from our own herd.
Whether you are enjoying a quiet snack while looking out over Dartmoor or hosting a grand gathering, we hope you take a moment to appreciate the history behind your food today. From the 11th-century invention of the cream tea to the 20th-century creation of the tortilla chip, great food is always worth celebrating.