The history behind corn or maize is ancient. It can be traced back up to 10,000 years ago. By choosing the best kernels, farmers from what today is Mexico made it possible to have what we have today as corn and all its varieties. Selective breeding of specific corn types, some better fresh, some better tasting, some better for grinding and more was used and perfected. Modern maize has its origins in a grass called teosinte. Even when teosinte doesn’t look much like the corn we know today, they are genetically similar.
Today, corn is a staple food all over the world and its production surpasses even that of wheat or rice. Maize is not only used to feed people but also as a source of food for animals, and to produce ethanol, corn starch and syrup among others.
From the very beginning, the importance of corn in our culture has left a powerful and meaningful mark. Civilizations have grown and evolved thanks to corn. It was thought of as a gift from the gods and it would be used as an important food source and as an offering in rituals. It is not surprising that there is even mysticism surrounding corn. Corn is a clear indication of summer and harvest, it has been used as a symbol of fertility. In the Appalachia region in the United States it is believed that if you miss a row when planting corn, someone in the family will die. If you see kernels of corn laying on the ground it is believed that someone is coming but if you brush the kernels away or bury them, the company will be of strangers. The symbolism and mysticism surrounding corn are vast and rich.
There are even recipes used to honour the energy of the corn. There are spells made around corn and rituals involving corn where the hope is that it will bring fertility, growth and transformation, to bring wealth and health.
For us, the magic of corn relies on the beautiful food it produces. It is at the very centre of our traditions. Always present at our tables. Offered always to our family and friends. It is always there to nurture us and welcome us whenever we go back home. Nothing compares to driving straight to a taco stand just after landing when back in our country. That right there is pure magic.
Our most precious ingredient will always be corn, usually ground into flour, worked with our hands with just water and a touch of salt. Transformed into a flat disc that will be cooked and used as a vessel to provide nourishment and happiness at the same time.
Have you experienced that kind of magic?
Don’t miss out on the previous instalments of our precious corn tortillas!
Find here the link for everything you need to know about Homemade Corn Tortillas
Find here a more in-depth account of our loved corn tortillas and how to use them
Look here to know all about our corn tortillas and their characteristics
Interesting links for further reading about the magic surrounding corn:
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