New Delhi: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), the world's second-largest fast-food chain restaurant, is known for its signature deep-fried chicken. Multiple similar outlets or competitions have tried to produce their own versions of fried chicken, but the taste commanded by KFC is considered unmatched. And the recipe has remained a secret that everyone wants to be in on.
On its official website, KFC says its deep-fried chicken contains a "select blend of 11 herbs and spices", and it is a closely guarded secret only known to a handful of people.
Many outlets over the years have tried to recreate the exact fried chicken but the right KFC mix of herbs and spices has eluded them, keeping the original flavour distinct.
And as if to tease everyone trying to emulate the KFC taste, the fast-food giant appears to make a conscious effort to make it known all that it uses 11 'secret' herbs and spices — in both simple and quirky ways.
Take KFC's Twitter handle for example. It clearly shows the brand has decided to sneak in that "secret" factor, keeping KFC enthusiasts excited.
KFC's official Twitter handle follows only 11 people — all with a strange 'spices' and 'herb' connection.
Five of the handles that KFC follows are former members of the British pop group, Spice Girls — Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham. The other six people followed by KFC's official Twitter handle have 'Herb' as their first name.
Well, that sums up five 'spices' and six 'herbs' — maybe this is how one can start to decode the secret select blend of 11 herbs and spices that gives KFC its distinct taste and flavour.
KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders. Col Sanders began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. He opened the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" franchise in Utah in 1952.
KFC has over 41,000 fast-food restaurants in more than 125 countries.