Grain

Zea mays

S tier

Zea mays is domesticated maize—the New World grass that became sweetcorn, popcorn, dent field corn, and every tortilla in between. A single species holds radical kernel chemistry differences: sugary sweet types, hard flints, soft flour corns, and high-starch dents for feed and milling. Colour runs yellow, white, blue, red, and multicoloured landraces. Culinary use depends entirely on type. Nixtamalise hard field kernels for masa; eat sugary hybrids fresh; pop the small hard-germ popcorns. Calling something “corn” without a type leaves the cook guessing water, time, and technique for an entirely different ingredient experience.