Sacred Blue Corn

Corn is the only grain developed in the Americas, and was so essential that it is often featured in Native American art. The blue variety is well known to be drought resistant and delicious, and is high in anthocyanins. It is also higher in protein than yellow corn. It was originally developed by the Hopi, and remains an essential part of Hopi dishes. When this sacred corn grows, its stalks will not look like the uniform rows of the modern varieties. Some will be tall and some short, and their bright blue ears just as randomly placed. The Ponca tribes of Nebraska and Oklahoma believe the creator gave this corn to them not only as food, but also as medicine. Blue corn continues to be a favorite Southwestern food used in tortillas and chips.