Sweetcorn Seeds

Maize was the chief cereal grown in Central and South America long before Christopher Columbus arrived in the 'New World'. It was probably grown up to 10000 years ago and we have archaeological evidence of this dating back 5000 years. By the early 16th century sweetcorn had found its way to Europe.

Sweetcorn is actually a grain rather than a vegetable the Cherokees used maize to treat kidney stones while the Navajo used it to ease sore throats. Many native Americans used the leaves as 'chewing gum'. The Mayans worshipped the maize god for thousands of years. In their mythology the god was beheaded at harvest time but came back to life at the start of the next growing season.