Best Mexican Corn Varieties: A Flavorful Guide

Mexican Corn: Types, History, and Culinary Uses

Reading time : 1 minute, Discovery Chepe Id-361-GAS
Published in 08-10-2024

Mexican corn is a fundamental crop for this country, due to its economic, social and cultural importance. It is a staple food in the Mexican diet, present in a wide variety of traditional dishes such as tortillas, tamales, pozole and many more.

What are the varieties of corn in Mexico? Mexican corn was domesticated from teosinte approximately 10,000 years ago in Mesoamerica. The ancient natives cultivated it and developed a wide variety of breeds. Corn was considered a sacred element and a symbol of fertility. Mexico is the center of origin and diversification of corn, with more than 64 different races. These breeds are distinguished by their color, size, ear shape, grain texture and flavor.

1- White Corn: It is the most common type of corn in Mexico. It is used to make tortillas, pozole, atole and other dishes.

2- Blue Corn: It is used to make blue tortillas, tlaycoyos, blue pozole and other dishes.

3- Yellow Corn: It is mainly used for the production of animal fodder, although it is also consumed in some dishes such as yellow tortillas and pinole.

Savor the Authentic Taste: Mexican Corn Varieties

4-Red Corn: It is used to make red tortillas, tortilla chips, red pozole and other dishes.

5-Black Corn: It is mainly used to make popcorn, although it is also consumed in some dishes such as black pozole.

6-Popcorn Corn: It is used to make popcorn.

7-Sweet Corn: It is consumed fresh or canned, it is a yellow corn with a sugary flavor.

Other varieties of corn:
a) Cacahuacintle corn
b) Chalqueño corn
c) Conical corn
d) Eight-row corn
e) Elotic corn
f) Mixtec corn
g) Pepitilla corn
h) Tuxpeño corn
i) Small zapalote corn

Corn is of great importance for Mexico since it is considered an invaluable treasure that must be protected and valued. It is part of the cultural identity of Mexico. and it is an important natural resource for food security. Mexican corn is an ancestral legacy that nourishes the present and has a promising future.