It’s a well-known symbol of autumn: Indian corn. Check out these fun facts about the perennial fall favorite:
- In America, Indian corn also is known as flint corn. Since each kernel features a hard outer layer to protect the soft endosperm, it is likely to be hard as flint, hence the name!
- A bit of trivia for your Thanksgiving table: Indian corn is one of the oldest varieties of corn and is a type Native Americans taught early colonists how to cultivate. The Native Americans also lent their name to the crop.
- Indian corn has a very low water content, making it more resistant to freezing versus other vegetables. History states it was the only Vermont crop to survive New England’s “Year Without a Summer” in 1816. This also makes it popular for autumn decorations — it’s less apt to spoil.
- Indian corn is the preferred type of corn for making hominy, a staple food in the Americas since pre-Columbian times.
- The names of Indian corn varieties grown today include Strawberry Popcorn and Blue Corn.
