Maize (Corn)

Maize (known as corn in North America, Australia and New Zealand), is a tall cereal plant that grows up to 3 m (10 feet) in height. Its distinctive long, drooping leaves extend from an inner stalk, which supports a number of stems that hold the ears of corn. Each ear of corn can grow up to 30 cm long and contain the corn kernels.

Second only in importance to wheat, maize is widely cultivated throughout the world. The United States produces almost half of the world's harvest (280 million tonnes a year), although other countries such as China, Brazil, France, South Africa and Indonesia also produce maize in considerable amounts. Corn is an excellent source of vitamin A, manganese, and potassium. However, it is not as rich in protein as some other cereals, such as rice or wheat.

There are five major varieties of corn: dent, flour, flint, popcorn and sweetcorn.

Dent (or field) corn has firm kernels that are high in starch and low in sugar. It is primarily used for animal feed and for products such as syrups, alcoholic drinks, sugars, corn chips, corn oil, starch, cereals and sweeteners for soft drinks. It is also used to make non-edible items, including adhesives, plastics and fuel additives.

Flint corn has multicoloured ears that are often dried and used for purely decorative purposes. However, the hard kernels may also be ground to make a coarse flour known as cornmeal, which is used to make polenta. If the kernels are processed with an alkali, they become hominy, which can be ground to make hominy grits and masa harina, a coarse flour used to make tamales and tortillas.

Flour corn has kernels that are much more soft and starchy than the other varieties of corn, which allows it to be milled more finely. It is grown solely as a source of finely-ground flour such as cornflour.

Popcorn is a special variety of dried corn that contains a high moisture content. When heated, it bursts open, producing a tasty snack.

Sweetcorn (also known as corn on the cob) is eaten fresh as a vegetable rather than a cereal. It contains a higher level of sugar than other types of corn, giving it a sweet flavour. There are many different varieties, including yellow corn (yellow kernels), white corn (white kernels), and a hybrid of both types, often referred to as peaches and cream or butter and sugar corn.

In this section, we take a look at some of the most important corn varieties and products.