Jul 25, 2024
Nixtamalization is the process of adding an alkali solution to dried corn kernels in order to transform them into nixtamal, a product that is more workable, tasty, and nutritious than it would be otherwise. Nixtamalization is native to Mexico, where corn is one of the staple foods. The exact history of nixtamalization is unknown, but it has been used by native Mesoamericans for millennia. In fact, nixtamal is derived from two words in the indigenous Mexican language, Náhuatl: nextli, meaning ashes, and tamale, meaning corn dough.
Mackenzie Stratton, What is Nixtamalization
