Maize (Zea mays, or corn) was domesticated in Mexico around 10,000 years ago. Since then, it has become an integral part of Mesoamerican culture, so much so that Maya self-identify as “people of corn.” Maize is featured in local religions and creation stories and is a valuable cash crop. Corn tortillas have long served as a regional staple. This foodstuff involves chemically transforming corn through a process called nixtamalization. By cooking corn in an alkaline solution, the ancient Maya discovered a process of making maize highly nutritious. Colonization, global capitalism, cultural exploitation, and biopiracy have spread corn and tortilla-like products around the world, generally without benefit to Mesoamerican peoples. Often these products are not nixtamalized or even made of corn. This study explores the potential benefits of reclaiming this vital element of Mesoamerican cultural identity through the establishment of Geographical Indicator status for nixtamalized tortillas.
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