- smut is a fungal disease used in cooking.
- In Mexico, the growth of the knotweed smut is consumed, is there a chance of such a consumption trend appearing in Europe?
Mexican delicacy of mushroom in corn
Aztec caviar, Mexican truffle – these are actually attractive-sounding names for the same delicacy that is popular in some parts of the world. In our culture, it is a niche dish, little known, but what is more interesting is that it is obtained from something that is considered a disease. We are talking about a dish prepared directly from growths resulting from the activity of the fungus Ustilago maydis, which infects corn.
Rump is common in corn. Depending on when the infection begins, it causes yield losses. The most dangerous smut is in the first two generations, i.e. at the time of leaf development and panicling. Then, yield losses usually amount to about 10 percent, but it also happens that some plants die if the growth cone is damaged as a result of infection.
This disease has existed for as long as corn has been grown. The Aztecs already knew it (hence one of the names). They treated the head growth as part of the crop. Both the cobs and the growths themselves were used for food purposes
Walking through an ordinary Mexican market, you will notice many local specialties, including: Aztec caviar. In Mexico, the dish is more commonly known as Huitlacoche. The delicacy has been known for hundreds of years, and in Central America it was eaten much earlier than the continent was known to Europeans.
In a nutritional context, it is important that this fungus does not produce mycotoxins.
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Also exported to Europe, but popular locally
When it comes to export, the main buyers for years have been countries such as the United States and Japan, although it is also eagerly imported to Europe.
Let us add here that it is not the case that this Mexican truffle is so common throughout the country. As it turns out, it gained the greatest popularity primarily in the central regions of Mexico. It is worth noting, however, that from a simple delicacy it has actually become an exquisite dish. It is used in sauces, soups, and often appears in tortillas in Mexico. It is also eaten as a main course.
Currently, the product can be purchased in various forms. From the simplest, fresh one, available locally, to canned, frozen or dried forms. In Poland, this product is not easily available. Mexican truffle can be found mainly in a few online stores, and its prices are not low (PLN 60 – 70 for a 380 g package).
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Will the knotweed plant growth be consumed in Europe?
Is there a chance in Europe that the head growth will become a delicacy that consumers will willingly eat? Well, it once seemed that there was no chance that such a dish would become popular on the Old Continent. However, we notice many new trends in consumer and eating habits. This is often an opportunity for such niche menu items. But will we ever produce maize in Europe for the purpose of obtaining smut growths? If so, it would probably be on a small scale. Even in Mexico, where this culinary item has a long tradition, this purpose of corn is not common – it is treated rather as a by-product (unless we are talking about specialized farms harvesting the growth, where plantations are run in a way that favors the development of the knotweed smut).
