Who invented popcorn?

Popcorn is native to the Americas. It was first cultivated by the pre-Columbian indigenous peoples in Central America who popped the kernels of corn and ate them that way.

Eventually, popcorn spread from Central America to North and South America. Popcorn was not just an important food to the Aztecs. It was also used in their religious ceremonies. Europeans were introduced to popcorn when they came to the Americas. It was a very popular American snack during the Great Depression because even poor families could afford it. As of 2014, with the ability to make popcorn at home easily, it has become an even more popular snack.