Toddler's First Taste of KFC Fried Chicken Brings Pure Joy to His Taste Buds

Toddler's First Taste of KFC Fried Chicken Brings Pure Joy to His Taste Buds

Uncovering the secret of Kentucky Fried Chicken's recipe of 11 herbs and spices has been the quest of so many people around the world!

For more than 70 years since Colonel Harland Sanders perfected his southern-style chicken recipe in 1939, many have tried to mimic the famous dish -- in vain. And so, instead, KFC lovers turned to another easier and more pleasurable challenge: the "How Many Pieces of KFC Chicken Can You Eat" kind of competitions.

width= Photo: Reddit/u/SnazzySaz

But, of course, even if a lot of people have enjoyed those eating contests, the KFC secret recipe was a mystery that our minds and taste buds could not let go. Was there rosemary in there? But the fried chicken doesn't smell woodsy. How about thyme and oregano? Possibly. Garlic powder? Onion powder? Pepper, for sure. The thing is, even if you could guess the ingredients, there's the measurement to perfect as well in order to come up with the 100% KFC taste. It's no wonder culinary secrets like this take a long time to be solved.

But hey! Colonel Sander's secret recipe was finally discovered in 2016, according to the Chicago Tribune! KFC's 11 herbs and spices were revealed by none other than Colonel Sanders's nephew, Joe Ledington. Jay Jones, a freelance writer, met with this retired teacher in Corbin, Kentucky, where the first KFC restaurant was opened, for a "different" story. His assignment from the Chicago Tribune was to "research the restaurant, museum, and fried chicken in Corbin for a 'Fork in the Road' feature in the Chicago Tribune's Travel section."

Just imagine this writer's shock when Ledington showed him KFC's secret recipe, handwritten on a piece of paper that's kept in a photo album! No, it was not the Colonel's handwriting, but Ledington assured Jones that they were the "real" ingredients for his uncle's fried chicken. He could say this because he used to work in his restaurant and among his tasks was blending and bagging up those chicken mixes.

Ledington further confided to Jones that the real secret among those 11 ingredients was the WHITE PEPPER! The retired teacher told the Chicago Tribune reporter, "The main ingredient is white pepper. I call that the secret ingredient. Nobody (in the 1950s) knew what white pepper was. Nobody knew how to use it."

Voila! Of course, the Tribune tried the so-called "original KFC recipe," and the first test was claimed to taste even better than Colonel Sanders's recipe. On the next test, MSG was added to the chicken mix, and those who tasted the result said that the fried chicken perfectly matched KFC's.

width= Photo: Reddit/u/SnazzySaz

Regarding Jones, he did try to verify from KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands, if the list that Ledington showed him was the original recipe. The company did not confirm or deny it. In an email, a KFC spokesperson wrote, "In the 1940's, Colonel Sanders developed the original recipe chicken to be sold at his gas station diner. At the time, the recipe was written above the door, so anyone could have read it. But today, we go to great lengths to protect such a sacred blend of herbs and spices. In fact, the recipe ranks among America's most valuable trade secrets."

Further, when a Chicago Tribune editor tried to verify the facts about the KFC recipe from Ledington, the colonel's nephew had became cautious, since it's among America's best-kept culinary secrets. This time, he told the editor that he was unsure, since the album came to his possession only a few years ago.

Well, whether the old handwritten list is the original recipe or not, one thing is sure: KFC's finger-licking goodness is a gastronomic pleasure for everyone! Just watch this toddler and his reaction as he gets his first taste of KFC fried chicken!

https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/12r0718/oc_sons_reaction_after_trying_kfc/
Doris de Luna

For more than 20 years now, I’ve been devoting my heart, energy, and time to fulfilling my dream, which – many people may agree – is not among the easiest aspirations in life. Part of my happiness is having been able to lend a hand to many individuals, companies, and even governments as an investigative journalist, creative writer, TV director, and radio broadcaster.


At home, I spend my free time learning how to cook various cuisines. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and banoffee pie are my favorite desserts. Playing with our dogs, Mushu and Jerusalem, is also a special part of my day. And, of course, I read a lot – almost anything under the sun. But what really makes me feel alive is meeting people from various walks of life and writing about their stories, which echo with the tears and triumph of an unyielding spirit, humanity, and wisdom.

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