Here the culture and history of the mcilhenny family run deep. The mcilhenny family has made tabasco sauce on avery island, louisiana for over 5 generations. Mcilhenny is sometimes blamed for the introduction of exotic coypu, also known as nutria. The real history of tabasco chuck evans montezuma brand. The most visited tourist place is the tabasco factory. Avery island is home to the tabasco pepper fields, a historic salt mine, the tabasco factory, and the 170acre jungle gardens. The mcilhenny company and just over 200 employees make tabasco on avery island, louisiana. Still family run and isolated on avery island, the book details the interesting social, political and business changes over the last 150 years. Find exclusive gifts, hot sauce flavors, apparel and more at our online country store. It is a saltdome island in iberia parish, where relatively few people live. He established a private wildlife refuge around his family estate on avery island and helped in preserving a large coastal marshland in louisiana as a bird refuge. Ile petite anse is a salt dome best known as the source of tabasco sauce. Story of tabasco a spicy history with a sustainable twist. The authoritative cookbook on tabasco sauce from previous mcilhenny company ceo paul mcilhenny, featuring 80 recipes with your favorite pepper sauce in a newly revised edition.
From its majestic jungle gardens to mcilhennys famous pepper sauce factory, experience all the sights, smells and sounds of the birthplace of flavor. They sit in a warehouse, stacked sixhigh in rows of 150 or more. The book s large, glossy pages include numerous previously. Located in iberia parish, louisiana, united states, it is approximately three miles 4. Tabasco factory visitors center, avery island roadtrippers. The railroad came to avery island in 1883, primarily to serve the islands salt mine. Avery island isnt really an island, but more of a dry. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in avery island and the famous tabasco sauce. Avery island along the gulf coast, about 140 miles west of new orleans is the home of tabasco, in every sense. Saltcapped barrels of tabasco age on the barrel room. This chronicle examines the origin of tabasco sauce, from its postcivil war creation on avery island, louisiana, to its evolution into the gold standard of pepper. Tabasco sauce is a louisiana product with international reach. Hot peppers grown there are used to make tabasco sauce.
Around 1895, he founded a private bird sanctuary known as bird city to protect endangered snowy egrets. Avery island is a natural paradise located in southern louisiana where the world famous tabasco brand pepper sauce has been produced by the mcilhenny family since 1868. Oct 23, 20 forget apple pietabasco sauce is a distinctly allamerican food, with a fascinating history and a touch of the antebellum south in every bottle. History buffs as well as cooks will be interested in a pair of books from national companies with international reputations. Avery island tabasco museum and factory new iberia.
For the very first time, the mcilhenny family is providing an unprecedented, behindthescenes look into the tabasco brand legacy with tabasco. Actually, there are nearly 40 recipes the original and the updated version for this volume. The tabasco themed bedroom, located downstairs, has a queen bed and is directly across from the bathroom. The history of tabasco brand tabasco brand products are made by mcilhenny company, founded by edmund mcilhenny in 1868 on avery island, louisiana. The railroad also served the factory that produced the worldfamous tabasco brand pepper sauce. Its about 165 feet high and that makes it the tallest point in the gulf coast. Avery island, salt dome, 163 ft 50 m high and 2 mi 3. Given all these activities, its a wonder mcilhenny had time for spirituals, but he did. Here are some fascinating things you probably didnt know about avery. The surprisingly interesting history and production of tabasco. Nov 29, 2002 avery island along the gulf coast, about 140 miles west of new orleans is the home of tabasco, in every sense. Not exactly an island, its actually a three mile long salt dome surrounded by wet marsh land. Jan 01, 2007 great history of mcilhenneys and tabasco sauce history.
Of course, the war in the title was the civil war, and mcilhenny was particularly. In addition to seeing how they age tabasco sauce in white oak barrels and ship it all over the world, you can visit avery island s 250 acre jungle gardens and see, in season, a variety of azaleas, camellias and bamboo. Mcilhenny, ned assumed the presidency of mcilhenny company in 1898 and ran the worldfamous pepper sauce operation until his. But there are many other secrets and amazing facts hidden in louisianas favorite destination. Dec 11, 2014 touring avery island and jungle garden. It is produced by mcilhenny company of avery island, louisiana. The tour takes you through the process of making tabasco from harvesting to bottling. Here the culture and history of the mcilhenny family run. Pdf tabasco brand pepper sauce bottles from avery island.
Avery island is a favorite destination for people throughout louisiana. The railroad came to avery island in 1883, primarily to serve the island s salt mine. A factory tour of the facility provides background on the company and mcilhenny family, as well as the history of the island. Today, tabasco retails in over 185 countries, in over 20 languages and dialects and has even appeared in the world of james bond. He also introduced several exotic plants into jungle gardens, his private wildlife garden. A history of hot sauce and the secret island where tabasco. The famous hot pepper sauce was invented in 1868 by edmund mcilhenny on avery island, louisiana. When crowder, who lives two hours northeast in denham springs, was a little girl, her father collected plants from all over the south, and one of his favorite spots was avery island, at the nursery and the jungle gardens that e. Avery island highlights of the tabasco factory tour and. Not far from lafayette, louisiana is avery island, home to where tabasco has been make since 1868. Avery island isnt really an island, but more of a dry mound a salt dome surrounded by wetlands. According to company history, mcilhenny bought his stock of nutrias from a farm in new orleans, so he was not the first to introduce the creature, a native of. It is the home of the interrelated avery and mcilhenny families.
Jun, 2018 one of the most famous condiments in the world is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Tabasco is still made there today, and the company is still run by mcilhennys descendants. Nov 20, 2015 not far from lafayette, louisiana is avery island, home to where tabasco has been make since 1868. Featuring an elevated salt dome, an anomaly on the gulf coast, the island. Avery island, a dome of salt fringed by marshes where tabasco sauce has been made for the past 150 years, has been an outpost of stubborn consistency near the louisiana coast. The birthplace of tabasco brand pepper sauce, avery island has been owned for over 180 years by the interrelated marsh, avery and mcilhenny families. A gorgeous coffee table book on the history of tabasco. Includes tabasco recipes like oyster cocktail and eisenhowers barbecue sauce. Born in 1872 at avery island, louisiana, mcilhenny was educated by private tutors before attending dr.
A short story in the new york times focuses on its origins, revealing that the spicy sauce, produced in avery island. Avery island louisiana home to the tabasco factory and more. Built on a salt dome, its a mysteriously beautiful place where the red peppers grow, the factory hums, and abundant wildlife can be seen in jungle gardens. Glad we took the drive around the island perimeter christmas 20. A display on the history of avery island and another on the island s salt mine help visitors understand why the location was first used for making tabasco sauce, and how the island s population once made their living in the mines. Edward avery ned mcilhenny 1872 1949, son of tabasco brand pepper sauce inventor edmund mcilhenny, was a louisiana businessman, explorer, and conservationist. Holbrooks military school in sing sing now ossining, new york.
Mcilhenny, which evolved into a 170acre tourist attraction renowned for its exotic semitropical foliage, abundant wildlife, and ornate buddha temple. Avery island the mcilhenny family fortune is hidden in barrels black with age, encrusted with salt and draped in cobwebs. The family when new orleans banker edmund mcilhenny married mary eliza avery in 1859, he took the first step to the seven mainstay tabasco flavors, a clothing line, and. In 1870 mcilhenny was granted a patent for his invention. I know a lot of things about the island but not the old history of the island, and thats what i found to be so interesting. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five islands rising above south louisianas flat coastal. Discover avery island tabasco museum and factory in new iberia, louisiana. Known far and wide as the home of tabasco hot sauce, the factory tours alone here are well worth a visit. Touring the visitor center and the pepper sauce factory is just one part of the avery island experience. Take time to look at the prints and items that tell the story of tabasco. The worlds famous tabasco brand pepper sauce began on avery island in 1868. Avery island, louisiana, the birthplace of tabasco brand pepper sauce, has been owned for over 180 years by the interrelated marsh, avery and mcilhenny families.
Still family run and isolated on avery island, the book details the interesting social, political. Whether you ask for it by name at restaurants or are one of the legions of people who travel with your own bottle, you know theres no substitute for giving eggs, oysters, and bloody marys a kick. According to company history, mcilhenny bought his stock of nutrias from a farm in new orleans, so he was not the first to introduce the creature, a native of southern brazil, argentina, and chile, to north america. Great history of mcilhenneys and tabasco sauce history.
Not only does it trace the history of the wildly adventurous lives of its descendants, the discovery of avery island, louisiana that became home to the families, factory and community that make tabasco sauce, it also includes strangerthanfiction stories, detailed sidebars, historical recipes, archival curiosities and hundreds of fascinating. As a young man, he studied the plants and animals in the avery island area. You see, the tabasco factory was built on an island that is home to north americas first ever salt rock mine in 1862. A tour of avery island, home of tabasco checkitoff. From branded keepsakes and cajun childrens books to authentic zydeco music, theres something for any diehard fan of louisiana. He established a private wildlife refuge around his family estate on avery island and helped in preserving a large coastal marshland in louisiana as a bird. Follow the tabasco trail back to its source and discover avery island, louisiana.
Becky elzy, the elder of the avery island women from whom e. Avery island is full of history, salt, culture and now endangered animal. Finally, he mixed this with white wine vinegar and aged the result for another month. A corporation controlled by the avery and mcilhenny families owns the island. So, if you are planning a trip to avery island, here are few places that you need to visit on your day trip. Welcome to your onestop shop for tabasco collectibles and louisianainspired memorabilia. On avery island, a mcilhenny secret recipe apparently exists, however, the real secret rests with the red tabasco peppers being picked at the peak of ripeness24, mashed, and then properly fermented, diluted with vinegar, and stirred at length. This colorful hardcover coffeetable book, the history of jungle gardens, reveals the roughly centuryold story of jungle gardens, the private gardens of tabasco creator e. The island is owned entirely by the avery family, of which the mcilhennys form. How climate change could swallow louisianas tabasco island. This lavish, entrancing book resulted instead, tracing the fabled condiments history, the family, marketing and more. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five islands rising above south louisianas flat coastal marshes. Shop tabasco products online tabasco country store. On avery island in south louisiana, he sowed the seeds, nurtured the plants and.
While checking out the factory and store was cool, my favorite part of touring tabasco had to be avery island and jungle gardens. Take the tabasco factory tour where you will enjoy 10 stops on your tour including a film on the history of tabasco brand pepper sauce, historical displays in the museum, fun interactive activities, and shopping for everything tabasco in the tabasco country store. Mcilhenny established a nutria farm on avery island, louisiana, within shouting distance of the factory where the company that bears his family name makes tabasco sauce. The story of the powerful mcilhennys of louisiana, who turned hot. Visitors may tour the tabasco museum and factory, dine on cajun food and even have a bloody mary spiked.
The tabasco factory was the part of my avery island trip i was most looking forward to and it was a little underwhelming. Edward avery mcilhenny march 29, 1872 august 8, 1949, son of tabasco brand pepper sauce tycoon edmund mcilhenny, was an american businessman, explorer, bird bander and conservationist. The book s large, glossy pages include numerous previously unpublished. Avery island day trip louisiana cajun mansion bed and. Beginning with edmund mcilhennys original handwritten recipe for tabasco brand original red sauce circa 1868, moving through the wildly adventurous lives of his descendants, and finishing with the infiltration. This spring i went to avery island, louisiana, to see how tabasco pepper sauce is made.
As many as 720,000 twoounce 57 ml bottles of tabasco sauce are produced daily at the tabasco factory on avery island. Wield your sauce like a pro with our collection of expertly crafted tabasco appetizers, entrees, desserts, dips and more. For hot sauce enthusiasts, no collection is complete without a little taste of tabasco flair. End your night by reading the beautifully illustrated book tabasco. He crushed the red peppers from his plants, mixed them with the salt found naturally on avery island and aged the mixture for a month in crocks and jars and barrels. An illustrated history is the first and only book about the mcilhenny family and company based on previously untapped documents in the mcilhenny company archives. The selfguided tour leads thought a small museum and few areas. Its also the wellspring for a new orleans spirits business drawing on the history of avery island and the family long associated with it. An illustrated history book design scott carroll designs.
After pounding the pavement in new orleans for months, he retreated to his wifes familys sugar plantation on petite anse now called avery island, a 2,200acre salt dome rising from the. For 150 years one family has been producing the iconic hot sauce on a bayou island made of salt. Edward avery mcilhenny, son of tabasco brand pepper sauce tycoon edmund mcilhenny, was an american businessman, explorer, bird bander and conservationist. In the summer of 2005, mcilhenny historian and curator bernard was working on the tabasco museum in new orleans, a project shelved by hurricane katrina. The island is listed on the national register of historic places. Avery island is home to many festivals, cultural arts and is a popular tourist attraction every year.
Ninas, paul artist l ocated in iberia parish, avery island is the largest of five salt domes along the louisiana coast. Bottles range from the common twoounce and fiveounce 59 ml and 148 ml bottles, up to a one us gallon3. Jungle gardens has a great guided bird tour and selfguided tour to see the beauty of the ancient oaks and bayous. To learn how edmund invented the sauce, and learning about the different chairmans of the company. Tabasco visitors center 329 avery island road, new iberia, louisiana 705 rated 4. Mcilhenny collection, avery island archives, avery island, louisiana. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks cover this geological oddity, which is one of five islands rising in atypical and mystical fashion well above south louisianas flat coastal marshes.
The book offers amazing historical photographs of not only tabasco and avery island, but the. Mcilhenny opened to the public alongside his familys tabasco empire in 1935. Apr 02, 2018 avery island, a dome of salt fringed by marshes where tabasco sauce has been made for the past 150 years, has been an outpost of stubborn consistency near the louisiana coast. Both have interesting stories to tell as well as recipes to explore.
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