While now a global staple, the term "taco" likely originated in 18th-century Mexican silver mines, where workers used the word to describe small, paper-wrapped gunpowder charges used for excavation. These "miners' tacos" eventually lent their name to the portable, folded snacks that became a mainstay for the industrial working class in Mexico City. The culinary evolution of the taco begins with the ancient process of nixtamalization, a technique dating back to 1500 BCE where corn is treated with an alkaline solution, such as lime water. This chemical transformation, rooted in Nahuatl culture, not only softens the maize to create masa but also releases essential nutrients like niacin (Vitamin B3), which historically prevented deficiency diseases in corn-reliant civilizations.

Modern taco culture is a product of diverse international influences, perhaps best exemplified by the Al Pastor variety, which was developed by Lebanese immigrants in Mexico who adapted Middle Eastern shawarma techniques to local pork and spices. Though often associated with American fast-food chains, the iconic U-shaped hard shell was patented by Mexican-American entrepreneur Jovencio Maldonado in 1950, years before the mass commercialization of the dish in the United States. Today, the taco's popularity extends into orbit, as astronauts on the International Space Station utilize tortillas to prevent crumbs from damaging equipment, and across the globe to Norway, which maintains one of the highest per-capita consumption rates in the world through its "Taco Friday" tradition.

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