Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC as we fondly know it, has long succeeded in tantalizing our taste buds with its delicious fried chicken. The secret behind its unique taste has always been attributed to its elusive ’11 herbs and spices’. For decades, this secret recipe was closely guarded, and KFC made sure that no one could replicate its crispy, delicious chicken quite like they do.
Secrets of the Trade
One of the culinary world’s most guarded recipes, KFC’s ’11 herbs and spices’, was believed to be locked securely away, with only a few privileged individuals knowing the true mix.
For years, the public speculated about what could possibly go into this legendary blend. Colonel Sanders often mentioned that all the ingredients could be found in a typical kitchen, yet matching the authentic taste was another story altogether.
However, the secrecy didn’t hold forever. The surprising twist came not from a rival chain or a disgruntled employee, but from within the Sanders family itself, when Colonel Sanders’ nephew, Joe Ledington, inadvertently revealed the cherished blend.
An Unexpected Revelation
In a rather unexpected turn of events, Joe Ledington shared the complete list of the secret herbs and spices in an interview with Jay Jones from the Chicago Tribune. This accidental leak happened when Ledington showed Jones a family scrapbook, which held a handwritten note of the recipe on the back of a will.
As it turns out, the original recipe was noted down in blue ink, titled “11 Spices — Mix With 2 Cups White Fl.” This little sneak peek into the family’s culinary history melted away years of mystery and speculation surrounding KFC’s secret formula.
Even though Ledington later tried to hedge by saying, “It could be; I don’t know for sure,” the cat was already out of the bag.
The Magic Ingredients
The list surprisingly contains ingredients that we might have had in our pantries all along. The primary ingredient revealed was white pepper, which was uncommon in the 1950s and thus considered to be the secret touch. Alongside white pepper, the blend also involves paprika, garlic salt, and regular table salt—along with other spices you might expect like dried mustard and ground ginger.
Recognizing the familiar ingredients against this famously guarded secret created quite a stir in the culinary world. Yet, there is something about the artistry of blending these spices that KFC does so well that keeps the original taste a sought-after experience.
Three types of salt—celery, garlic, and table—create a nuanced flavor profile, with thyme, basil, and oregano rounding up the herbaceous character of the blend.
‘Finger Lickin’ Good’
Inspired by the release of these ingredients, many amateur chefs and fried chicken enthusiasts have attempted to recreate the KFC experience at home. While some have succeeded to a fair degree, there’s nothing like savoring the original from the source itself. News outlets reported attempts to make this chicken replica, finding it remarkably close to the real deal, yet hinting there’s a special flair that KFC achieves.
Sitting down in a bustling KFC restaurant, surrounded by the familiar finger-lickin’ good aroma, isn’t just about the taste—it’s also about the memories, the treat, and the satisfaction that come with enjoying something original.
Ultimately, while many now know the magic mixture’s ingredients, the true magic will always be in KFC’s presentation, hospitality, and the joy it brings across generations of customers.
