Devil Crabs: All You Need to Know
Devil crabs have survived the test of time and thrived as Tampa's favorite street foods. Originating in the early 1900s, they have withstood weather conditions, climate change, and remain a staple Tampa Street food. Devil crabs emerged in Tampa, but what else is there to them? Here's all you need to know about your favorite appetizer and snack: Origin: Where It All Began Devil crabs came into existence directly because of Florida's then newly emerging cigar industry. The cigar industry was actually an import from Spain in the 1860s , and it began to expand immensely in the next few decades. Workers from Europe and across the Caribbean migrated to the port city to join the workforce in cigar factories. The most popular origin of Devil crabs is believed to be during a cigar factory strike in 1920. To sustain a living for their families, factory workers took to the streets and sold devil crabs, made from the blue-crabs of Tampa Bay crabs and Cuban bread. After the strike ...