Yes, it’s real
, and, as an heirloom, its seeds will grow true. Glass gem corn was born in Oklahoma, bred by a part-Cherokee farmer named Carl Barnes who had a knack for tinkering with corn. … Naturally, the seed lover selected several of the curiously-named “glass gems” to plant in his garden.
Is glass gem corn a real thing?
This multi-
colored corn is real
and there’s a fantastic story behind it. Oklahoma farmer Carl Barnes, who died in 2016, isolated types of corn from his Native American ancestors.
Can you eat glass corn?
Glass Gem corn
is not meant to be eaten like regular corn
, though it won’t hurt you to do so. It’s what is called flint corn, and its primary purpose would normally be for corn meal or popcorn.
What is glass gem corn used for?
For those that have asked about its edibility, Glass Gem is a flint corn used
for making flour or as a popping corn
. Unlike sweet corn, it is not typically eaten right off the cob. However, it was likely bred as an ornamental variety—for obvious reasons. Many of these exquisite ears are simply too beautiful to eat.
Can you eat glass gem Cherokee corn?
This corn is so beautiful that people often ask the question, “is Glass Gem Corn edible?” And the answer is
yes
, absolutely! Another question is, “how to eat Cherokee Glass Gem Corn?” Not only does it make for great decoration, it also makes for great cornmeal or even delicious homemade popcorn!
What does glass corn taste like?
The kernels also contain a hard outer layer to protect the soft interior, creating a firm and chewy consistency. Glass Gem corn has an opalescent quality with high starch content. The kernels are not commonly consumed fresh and are primarily dried. When processed, they contain a
neutral, unsweetened, starchy taste
.
Can you pop glass gem corn?
As a flint corn, you can use
Glass Gem for decoration
, but also grind it for [cornmeal or flour], or pop it (more on that later).
What color corn is healthiest?
Though some people believe that
yellow
corn is sweeter, that’s not the case. The only difference is that the naturally occurring pigment that makes those kernels yellow, beta carotene, gives them a bit of a nutritional edge over white corn—beta carotene turns into vitamin A during digestion.
Is glass gem corn a GMO?
In fact, this variety likely healthier than the corn you might buy at a store, which may have been genetically modified rather than artificially selected. Barnes artificially selected the prettiest corn from his crop and decided to grow from those seeds the following year.
Is Rainbow corn edible?
If we told you it was a beautiful piece of corn rainbow jewelry, you’d probably believe it. In fact, it’s
a completely edible ear of corn
originating from some special seeds you’ll soon be able to order and plant yourself. In fact, the corn is completely edible.
How fast does glass gem corn grow?
Corn should start growing
in 7 to 10 days
. Even if you planted the seeds a foot apart, some corn may grow too close together. In general, you want one stalk of corn per foot. You will have to remove seedlings that are growing too close together.
Can you eat multicolored corn?
The hard, multicolored ears of corn that decorate tabletops and front doors around this time of year are,
in theory, edible
. … During the early stages of corn’s maturation process, the kernels are filled with a milky material that is primarily sugars, which is why it tastes so sweet when it’s cooked.
How do you eat glass corn?
Glass gem corn is a flint corn, so it is not usually eaten like corn on the cob. However, you can
use it to make cornmeal to use in other recipes
. You can also pop the kernels into popcorn. To get the kernels, you will first have to dehydrate your corn.
Does glass gem corn taste good?
Glass Gem is predominantly a popcorn (a subcategory of flint corn) and can be ground into cornmeal for use in dishes such as polenta or grits, or popped. This variety was selected for its majestic beauty and colors. However,
it does have good corn flavor.
Why is corn different colors?
The different colors of corn seeds (ker nels)
result from anthocyanin pigments that are expressed differentially by cells of the aleurone tissue
. … Clearly, kernel color is inherited.
Why is corn multicolored?
Thanks to Barnes, fellow farmer Greg Schoen became acquainted with the vegetable in 1994 at a native-plant gathering in Oklahoma. Mesmerized by the colors,
Barnes gave Schoen some of the seeds
, who then planted the rainbow corn next to traditional yellow varieties. This mixture led to new and exciting hybrids.
