This variety of corn is an heirloom variety native to the center of Mexico which is where I am currently living! Heirloom corn is very cool because it can come in a ton of different colors and sizes. Heirloom corn is different from the sweet yellow corn we are used to seeing at the grocery store in the United States--it is more traditional and its seeds have been passed down through generations.
I have had street corn many times in my life, but I think because the Cacahuazintle corn was so unique, I enjoyed it much more! This type of corn is very big and has large kernels that explode in your mouth when you bite into it. It is a lot more dense than the corn people are used to eating in the United States, and is not as sweet. However, I much prefer Cacahuazintle because it is a lot more satisfying for me to eat. I also prefer my corn to not be as sweet. I felt so happy and I was so excited to be trying it!
I bought my corn from a street vendor, who was super kind and friendly. My friend and I were walking around the center of town and I spotted the lady standing behind a boiling pot of corn that was steaming. The steam brought some warmth into the cold night air. I followed the warm, comforting smell of corn, and I approached her to buy some. She offered me corn in a cup, which is also called an esquite, or the corn on the stick which is called an elote. I much prefer corn on a stick because it’s so much fun to eat (messy, but worth it), so I ordered one. She prepared it “con todo”, which means "with everything on it,” and includes mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and a squeeze of lime. It was delicious!
