The staple grain of Mesoamerican and, after the Columbian Exchange, much of world cuisine, known as corn in North American usage. Domesticated from the wild grass teosinte, it underlies the tortilla and tamale traditions of Mexican cuisine and, ground and processed with alkali (nixtamalization), was the nutritional base of pre-Columbian civilizations across the Americas. Maize was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago, and Native Americans planted it alongside beans and squashes in the Three Sisters polyculture. Since the Columbian exchange its total production has surpassed that of wheat and rice, although its protein is low in some essential amino acids.
Facts
Disputed
Earliest Documented Use, From (Year)Genetic and archaeobotanical studies converge on the Balsas River valley of southern Mexico as the domestication site, but estimates of the exact date range across roughly two millennia depending on method, so a range is given rather than a single year. Origin RegionThe Balsas River valley, southern Mexico 1 Connections
Associated With
Expresses Tradition
Source On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the KitchenHarold McGee
Used By
Source American Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Bhutanese Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Larousse Gastronomique
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Source Ecuadorian Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Galician Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Githeri (Wikipedia)
Source Guatemalan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Larousse Gastronomique
Source The Oxford Companion to FoodAlan Davidson
Source Mozambican Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Nacatamal - Wikipedia
Source Nicaraguan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Nixtamalization (Wikipedia)
Source Ogi (food) (Wikipedia)
Source Larousse Gastronomique
Source Pone (food) (Wikipedia)
Source Larousse Gastronomique
Source Salvadoran Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source A Taste of South African Barbecue (Smithsonian Magazine)Amanda Fiegl
Source Swiss Cuisine (Wikipedia)
The corn tortilla the meat is served on.
Source The Oxford Companion to FoodAlan Davidson
Source Venezuelan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source The Oxford Companion to FoodAlan Davidsontier 1
Sources
1. The Oxford Companion to Food
Alan Davidson, Oxford University Press, 2014entry: Maize
maize Zea mays, one of the most important cereal crops in the world
- Used By: Mole Poblano
- Used By: Tacos al Pastor
Wikidata: Maize
Maize (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWikipedia, Maize, Lead section, domestication
Maize was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. Native Americans planted it alongside beans and squashes in the Three Sisters polyculture.
Wikipedia, Maize, Lead section, spread and production
Since the Columbian exchange, it has become a staple food in many parts of the world, with the total production of maize surpassing that of wheat and rice.
Wikipedia, Maize, Lead section, protein and niacin
Maize protein is low in some essential amino acids, and the niacin it contains only becomes available if freed by alkali treatment.
View the Source On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
Harold McGee, Scribner, 2004Expresses Tradition: Nixtamalization, ch. on cereal grains and pasta, maize
Larousse Gastronomique
Hamlyn, 2009- Used By: Mexican Cuisine, entry: Maize
- Used By: Peruvian Cuisine, entry: Maize
- Used By: Romanian Cuisine, entry: Maize
- Used By: Chilean Cuisine, entry: Maize
A Taste of South African Barbecue (Smithsonian Magazine)
Amanda Fiegl, Smithsonian Magazine, 2010Used By: South African CuisineView the Source Nixtamalization (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Nixtamalization, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Nixtamalization, Lead section
a process for the preparation of maize (corn), or other grain, in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution.
View the Source Pupusa (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Pupusa, IntroductionQuote, Used By: Pupusa, Introduction
A pupusa is a thick griddle cake or flatbread from El Salvador and Honduras made with cornmeal or rice flour stuffed with one or more ingredients including cheese, beans, chicharrón, or squash.
View the Source Tamale (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Tamale, Infobox main_ingredient field: Corn (maize) masa, banana leaves, corn husksView the Source Kenkey (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia: Humita
Used By: Humita, Infobox main_ingredient field: Maize, maize huskView the Source Wikipedia, Gachas
Used By: Gachas, Infobox main_ingredient field: Wheat flour, grass pea flour or corn flourView the Source Ogi (food) (Wikipedia)
Used By: Ogi (food), Infobox main_ingredient field: Maize, sorghum or milletView the Source Githeri (Wikipedia)
Used By: Githeri, Infobox main_ingredient field: Maize, red beans, black beans, maize, lima beans, butter, saltView the Source Corn on the cob (Wikipedia)
Used By: Corn on the cob, Infobox main_ingredient field: Maize (corn)View the Source Locro (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Locro, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the Source Nacatamal - Wikipedia
Wikipedia, Pinole
Used By: Pinole, infobox main_ingredient fieldQuote, Used By: Pinole, infobox main_ingredient field
Maize and cacao
View the Source Ugali (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Ugali, Infobox main_ingredient field: Maize meal (also known as mielie meal, or ground white maize)View the Source American Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: American Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: American Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Many practiced a form of agriculture revolving around the Three Sisters, the rotation of beans, maize, and squash as staples of their diet.
View the Source Swiss Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Swiss Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Swiss Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Probably the most significant changes occurred after colonization of the Americas and the introduction of now-widely used ingredients such as potatoes, maize, and cocoa.
View the Source Guatemalan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Guatemalan Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Guatemalan Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Most traditional foods in Guatemalan cuisine are based on Maya cuisine, with Spanish influence, and prominently feature corn, chilies and beans as key ingredients.
View the Source Galician Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Galician Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Galician Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Agricultural products such as potatoes, maize, and wheat are also staples in the Galician diet, along with dairy and meat products from cattle, sheep, and pigs; Galicia's grasses are green year-round and are excellent for grazing.
View the Source Salvadoran Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Salvadoran Cuisine, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Salvadoran Cuisine, Lead section
Many of the dishes are made with maize (corn). There is also heavy use of pork and seafood.
View the Source Ecuadorian Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Ecuadorian Cuisine, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Ecuadorian Cuisine, Lead section
In the mountainous regions pork, chicken, beef and cuy (guinea pig) are popular and are often served with rice, maize, or potatoes.
View the Source Nicaraguan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Nicaraguan Cuisine, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Nicaraguan Cuisine, Lead section
Western Nicaraguan cuisine revolves around the Mesoamerican diet of the Chorotega and Nicarao people such as maize, tomatoes, avocados, turkey, squash, beans, chili, and chocolate
View the Source Venezuelan Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Venezuelan Cuisine, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Venezuelan Cuisine, Lead section
Food staples include corn, rice, plantains, yams, beans and several meats.
View the Source Banku (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUsed By: Banku, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Banku, Lead section
a slightly fermented cooked mixture of maize and cassava doughs
View the Source Bhutanese Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Bhutanese Cuisine, Lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Bhutanese Cuisine, Lead paragraph
Other staples include buckwheat and increasingly maize.
View the Source Mozambican Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Mozambican Cuisine, Article textQuote, Used By: Mozambican Cuisine, Article text
They retain some presence, though maize has largely displaced them as a staple food over the last few decades.
View the Source Pone (food) (Wikipedia)
Used By: Pone (food), Lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Pone (food), Lead paragraph
Pone could be made with corn, or some other main ingredient could be used like sweet potato.
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