#nixtamalization

[noosphe-re]

Nixtamalization is the process of adding an alkali solution to dried corn kernels in order to transform them into nixtamal, a product that is more workable, tasty, and nutritious than it would be otherwise. Nixtamalization is native to Mexico, where corn is one of the staple foods. The exact history of nixtamalization is unknown, but it has been used by native Mesoamericans for millennia. In fact, nixtamal is derived from two words in the indigenous Mexican language, Náhuatl: nextli, meaning ashes, and tamale, meaning corn dough.

Mackenzie Stratton, What is Nixtamalization

[nickysfacts]

After around 12000’s years, tortillas still remains a delicious stable of Central American cuisine!🫓

🌮🇲🇽🌯

[obviouswar]

At the origins of nixtamalization.

[fumblerful]

The only thing young people care about these days is nixtamalization. Young Gen z and Gen alpha just won't shut up about mixing corn with an alkaline solution to prevent pellagra while giving due reverence to Huitzlapochtli and Tlaloc. It's just every day all day grinding of maize. So annoying.

[tainolearner]

wondering if taino practiced nixtamalization on their maize products given its widespread prevalence in continental maize traditions.

[renefitzgeraldgreen]

tortilla chips, but not corn chips

[alishatheninth]

Just thinking about nixtamalization. Nixtamalization is a process used by several Mesoamerican cultures to get more nutrients out of the staple crop, maize. It involves soaking in lime, cooking, and hulling.  When maize was introduced by Europeans to African countries as an easily-grown source of calories, they failed to bring over the knowledge of nixtamalization. Hence maize (often served in Africa as something like ugali, ground and cooked in water and - ideally - served with vegetables and animal product), is a much poorer staple in Africa than it was in the places where people evolved along with it. And a worse staple than the various crops which preceded maize as staples in Africa, which in many cases also require local knowledge to get the best out of (sorghum, manioc, millet, teff etc). Anyway, all knowledge is worth having, and agriculture has a lot of local knowledge.

[oroichonno]

How nixtamalisation works & its history

This should shed some light on how it’s done & how it can benefit us both in health & versatility.