Some Unusual Corn Varieties

Most of the kernels are large and red (right) but a smaller number are narrow like a gourdseed. Of these, all but a few are black.

Black Mexican (Iroquois Black Pucker), Chires (mini popcorn), Country Gentleman (shoepeg), Oaxacan Green

Hickory King, Texas Gourdseed, Inca Purple

• Black Mexican (Iroquois Black Pucker): a sweet corn derived from a northern flint.
• Chires: a miniature popcorn used as "unborn corn" in stir-fry.
• Country Gentleman: a sweet shoepeg corn.
• Oaxacan Green: used to make green flour tamales.
• Hickory King: akin to the shoepegs and gourdseeds, but with broad kernels.
• Texas Gourdseed: the gourdseeds were crossed with northern flints to produce the "corn belt" dents.
• Inca Purple: I grind this soft corn in a blender and mix it with tamale masa to make blue tortillas.

Inca Purple