Maize (Cintli)


Maize was the staple ingredient of the pre-Colombian diet, and it carried a deep cultural and spiritual symbol in daily pre-Colombian life. It is the stabilizing crop in the milpa system, which is a pre-Colombian agricultural technique that intercrops maize with squash and beans. The maize provides something for the squash to grow up, while the beans fix nitrogen back into the soil. Likewise, when all three are eaten together, their nutritional value is enhanced.