How The Taíno Outlasted Columbus

The Taíno influence can be felt in dishes like the Puerto Rican pastel—a culinary cousin of the Mexican tamale—and even in the legendary dish of mofongo, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

One can imagine how striking the island that was later called Hispaniola was when they first landed on its shores. With breathtaking seascapes, majestic palm trees, and lush mountains, it wasn’t surprising that there were already people enjoying its fruits. 

We don’t know the name of these people, but we know that when the Taíno first encountered them around 400 BC, their approach was much different from that of Columbus. That is, they did not enslave and subjugate them. Not much is known about these indigenous people whom the Taíno would eventually overshadow. More is known about the Taíno, despite the Spanish-sponsored efforts of Columbus to wipe them out. The Taíno never died.