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15/03/2022
The Largest Corn in the World
This corn is native to the department of Cusco, specifically the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It develops between 2,600 and 3,050m.a.s.l.m, has large cobs of 8 rows, large grain, round and floury. The plants grow to a size of 2 to 3 meters high, are characterized by having a thick stem without offspring suitable for the climatic characteristics of the Sacred Valley. The name white corn corresponds to the color of the grain and is called giant because of the exceptional large size of its grains, which is why it is considered the largest corn in the world. Cusco refers to the geographical area of its origin.
The climate is perfect predominant in the Sacred Valley originated an environment conducive to the cultivation of different agricultural products such as quinoa, beans, olluco, coca and, above all, corn. Because each product needs a different type of microclimate for its cultivation, the Incas created an impressive terrace system. Testimony to this are the agricultural terraces found in Moray, a circular terrace system similar to an amphitheater.
Since time immemorial the corn plant was considered the sacred plant for the Incas, due to its great food and religious significance and is still used today, in each of the religious festivities offered to the Inca gods. The Incas wore some corn plants as dolls to represent Mama Sara, also known as mother of corn or grains.
The Incas fervently believed that the Mother of Corn could listen and feel with pleasure the cults and offerings offered to her, giving them as a reward an abundant harvest of corn.
With the corn collected by the Incas, they made their main drink known as chicha, the bread for ceremonial use, as well as various stews that were prepared with corn.
The production of chicha obtained by the fermentation of corn was considered a religious and magical work, which was observed by Mama Sara and should be carried out only by women.
Mama Sara was a maiden who had been transformed into a beautiful corn plant, thanks to the divine intervention of her god Inti (the sun), this with the intention of avoiding being taken as a wife by the sorcerer Kuru.
Being a maiden, only women could harvest the corn, since Mama Sara could not be touched by men, otherwise future harvests would wither.
In May, the ritual began to Mama Sara, through the dance of corn, this ritual consisted mainly of the collection of corn by the women of the place, to then be taken to the house, where it was veiled for three nights.
During the cult, corn was placed among the best blankets and they believed that worshipping it would achieve the conservation of corn, also guaranteeing the reproduction of the next harvest.
