Let’s get one thing straight: churros are not food. They are deep-fried pieces of heaven, amirite? If you don’t believe me, just ask anyone anywhere. You see, according to the BBC, during the COVID-19 lockdown, churros were the most Googled recipe in the world.
Yes. In the midst of a global crisis, we all looked inward and asked: What do I need most right now? Hand sanitizer? Inner peace? Good health? No. I need churros.
So in honor of this humble strip of crunchy-fried bliss, here are 5 random, yet fun, facts about churros.
1. Disney Has Churros, Thanks to One Guy
Disneyland, in Los Angeles, and Disney World, in Orlando, having been serving churros for decades thanks to Disneyland Manager Jim Lowman, who spotted a churro stand at the Long Beach Grand Prix. They say he was looking for a snack teens would like to eat while visiting the amusement park.
“As the story goes, Lowman happened to spot a churro stand while at the Long Beach Grand Prix in 1985, eventually tracking down the company behind the street snack (one J&J Snack Foods, in this case) to see about bringing them on as Disneyland vendors,” Eater writes. “They agreed, and essentially the rest is history. “
2. They’re Fried with Science
Churros are made with the two most boring ingredients in the pantry: flour and water. Combine them and what you have is a beige, gluey mess. But drop that mess into hot oil? Boom. Crunchy, chewy, golden perfection. It’s the culinary version of a makeover movie. One minute: hopeless blob. The next: Cinderella at the ball, but coated in sugar and possibly dipped in chocolate.
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3. The Spanish Say They Invented Churros. So Do the Chinese.
The churro’s origin is murky. Was it invented by Spanish shepherds who didn’t have ovens in the mountains? Maybe. Did Portuguese sailors bring back a version of Chinese youtiao, a very similar fried doughstick? Possibly. Did it descend directly from Ancient Greek fritters? Who’s to say? What we do know: churros are old. Very old. “ … churros have been eaten in Spain for centuries,” the BBC writes.
4. Madrid Has a Churro Shop That Cranks Out 90,000 a Day
According to the BBC, Madrid’s Chocolatería San Ginés, a magical place open 24 hours a day (because some emergencies are churro-related), serves up to 90,000 churros. In. One. Day. That’s almost one churro for every person in Madrid. Also, two million people visit the shop, founded in the 1800s, every year.
5. The Word “Churro” Might Come from a Sheep
Yes. A sheep. The Churra sheep, to be exact. Known for its curly horns, which apparently resemble the original shape of churros. “ … the word itself (churro), (is) most likely a reference to the curly horns of the Churra sheep, doesn’t appear in written sources until the late 19th Century,” the BBC explains.
BONUS FACT: Some People Think Churros Don’t Need Chocolate
These people are called “wrong.”
