Espadin Agave Replaces Native Landrace Corn Fields for Mezcal Production
We call native corn here CRIOLLO. This term refers to landrace varieties of plants that have adapted to local conditions over generations. Maiz (corn) criollo is a traditional, non-hybrid corn variety grown by indigenous and rural farmers. Criollo can mean something authentic, traditional, or deeply rooted in a region’s culture. I’ve written a Substack essay […]
Into the Oaxaca Rain Forest: San Pedro Cajonos
Ten of us traveled by van for almost three hours to get to the Sierra Norte mountain village of San Pedro Cajonos where silk worms are cultivated, their cocoons spun and then woven on back strap looms into glorious silk garments colored with natural dyes! At the end, were were at almost 7,000 feet altitude, […]
The Season for Blue Corn in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
This morning I awaken to the smell of the wood fire. The smoke drifts through the air like a voice into my sleeping room, calling me. Magdalena is at the outdoor comal preparing tortillas. This is the season for blue corn. This is ancient corn — maize — organic, grown from kernels cultivated here in […]