The Scary Evolution of the Margarita

Margaritas are a cocktail synonymous with relaxation: lazy days on the beach, pool parties, or a summertime girls' night out on the town. Invented sometime in the 1930s or '40s (depending on who you talk to), margaritas hit the scene just before the post-World-War II industrialization of the food system. While original margarita ingredients used to be simple, today's run-of-the mill versions harbor science-lab-type ingredients that should make you very nervous.