The Home of SPAM is in Austin, Minnesota where you'll find its headquarters, Hormel Foods. What's not to love about the can of mystery meat that slurps out of the container surrounded by some kind of gel.

And who doesn't miss the little key that you used to have to break off from the container, to twist the metal band that would eventually open the can? (Did anyone else ever untwist the key from the metal strip -- and keep the key as a souvenir?)

My mom used to grate Velveeta cheese, SPAM, add chopped onions, mix, and place on open-faced hamburger buns, and broil. 'Spamwiches' were a family favorite at the Hanson house.

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So what exactly is SPAM? According to Hormel Foods:

Ah, the age-old question; what is the meat in that special can of SPAM Classic? Many myths abound, but the answer is actually quite simple. Six simple ingredients: Pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.

Original SPAM Classic is all I had known as a kid, but now you have all kinds of choices in the grocery store aisle.

  • SPAM Classic
  • SPAM Lite
  • SPAM Less Sodium
  • SPAM with Real Hormel Bacon
  • SPAM Oven Roasted Turkey
  • SPAM Hickory Smoke
  • SPAM Hot & Spicy
  • 'SPAM Jalapeno
  • SPAM Teriyaki
  • SPAM with Portuguese Sausage Seasoning
  • SPAM with Tocino Seasoning
Hormel Foods To Purchase Skippy Peanut Butter From Unilever
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So what's the shocking new product that the SPAM team at Hormel Foods is working on?

Hormel is partnering with Better Meat Company in California to create a meat-free, plant-based SPAM product. In a news release, Hormel Foods says the two companies will work together to develop the next generation of great-tasting, wholesome, and sustainable alternative protein products with The Better Meat Co.’s innovative Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient. Produced via a potato-based fermentation pioneered by The Better Meat Co., Rhiza is an all-natural whole food mycoprotein with a remarkable meat-like texture.

Next on my SPAM bucket list, visiting the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota. Can make it to the real deal in Austin? You can visit the virtual SPAM Museum gift shop online.

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