Corn also known as maize or mouth organ, is an important source of food, not just in Nigeria or Africa, but across the seven continents of the earth.

I want to use this medium to categorically state that corn and maize are terms used to define a versatile and essential crop and many foodies describe maize as corn.

But some people still ask if maize and corn are the same thing. Yes, both have slight differences, especially when we look at them closely.

The main difference between corn and maize is that the word corn is used in North American vernacular, while maize is commonly used in British and other parts of the world.

This clearly shows that the main corn and maize difference is due to the different languages and words used in different regions of the world.

So, apart from the fact that the word maize is used for the crops in the British language, while corn word is used in the American language for the same crops, both are high in Carbs, fats, protein, and phytochemicals, which are essential for sound health.

But the slight difference is this – corn contains a high amount of fibre, vitamins, and minerals,  which provide a lot of health benefits, while maize has a great amount of vitamin C, E, K, and B vitamins.

Corn is naturally gluten-free, so it can be a great option for those suffering from gluten sensitivity or celiac disease while maize germ contains almost 45-50% oil, which can be used in salads and cooking.

Corn contains high carbs and a low amount of protein. Thus, it is required that eating high-protein food makes up for the deficiency.

But maize has silk that contains essential constituents like fibre, salt, resin, fixed oil, and mucilage.

Okay, let’s go down memory lane. According to www.gardeningchannel.com when Christopher Columbus made a pit stop on an island near northern Antilles, the indigenous Tahino people on the island shared their primary food crop with him and his crew.

Their primary food crop was what we now call corn, but the Tahino farmers called it “mahiz”, which, in their language, means, “source of life.”

The Spanish brought samples of the grain with them, and eventually, the name mahiz evolved into maize. 

Any more difference? Maize is an accepted scientific term and an international term for corn, as it clearly references only one particular grain and cannot be confused with other food sources. The word corn, on the other hand, can suggest different meanings based on context and location.

The word maize is also commonly used by research institutes and agricultural groups like the FAO and CSIRO.

The people’s favourite filling snack is already been sold everywhere in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Corn sellers are seen all over the place, selling fresh ones with either the cobs or without the cobs.

Others are boiling and roasting the popular food over charcoal embers on street corners, beckoning at passers-by to come and have a bite.

In a corn-full season like this when the prices of foodstuffs have hit the roof-tops and hyperinflation is now the order of the day, the introduction of corn is surely a welcome alternative.

It is time to relax and enjoy this corn season in your kitchen, especially with plenty of corn recipes available for us to relish.

 

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