The Story of Floriani Red Corn
Originally from the Americas hundreds of years ago, “Spin Rossa della Valsugana" or “Spiny Red from the Valley of Sugana” probably arrived in Italy in the 16th century via Spain, as European explorers brought plants and animals home. Over the centuries, this Native American red flint corn adapted to the climate of northern Italy in the foothills of the Alps. The plants are open pollinated, in nature, uncontrolled by hybrid techniques, thus allowing for a wide range of genetic diversity to arise. Farmers selected which seeds to keep based on their good flavor and palatability, red color, and pointed kernels, while the plants developed an ability to germinate and mature in the cool Alpine climate.
This special red corn was reintroduced to the Americas around 2008, when William Rubel, a food historian and writer, visited Italy and brought some back. Coordinating with farmers across the United States, Rubel was able to test it in various locations, effectively returning it to this side of the Atlantic. The farmers decided on the name “Floriani Red,” after the Italian family who gave Rubel the seeds. Similar efforts to revitalize red flint corns on a larger scale are also taking place today in northern Italy.
This Floriani Red corn is particularly important because it is a “landrace,” that is, a traditionally farmed, locally adapted variety with high genetic diversity. As such, it continues to evolve, producing a few yellow and orange cobs on occasion. Genetic diversity can help a species survive new diseases or changing environmental conditions, such as global warming. Our Floriani Red is not genetically modified (non-GMOs), and it is also certified organic.
Flint Corn Versus Dent Corn
Floriani is a flint corn, which has a relatively hard starch outer layer and small amount of soft starch on the inside. Flint corns were grown extensively through the colonial period and predominated in the northeastern United States. As did the Native Americans, the colonial settlers consumed the whole grain, including the germ (sprout) and the bran (seed coat) along with the cornstarch.
Flint corn differs from dent corn, which is the typical corn grown in America today. Dent corns have a thin exterior of hard starch and more soft starch on the interior which, when dry, shrinks to create the characteristic “dent” on the top of the kernel.
Whole-Grain Corn Versus Corn Meal and Grits
We do not remove or separate any portions of our corn when we grind it, and often we just sell the whole kernels—because our customers wish to grind it themselves. Thus, when ground, our Floriani Red is a whole-grain corn, which produces a deep corn flavor.
In contrast, to produce today’s typical meal or grits, the germ and the bran are removed to improve shelf life without refrigeration. This process reduces the nutritional value—and flavor. Drawing the analogy to wheat, cornmeal and hominy grits are like “white” flour, while Floriani is like “whole wheat” flour.
How To Grind and Store Floriani Red
You can also grind the corn very quickly and effectively in a food blender. The blender must have a strong motor or only do a small amount (1 cup or less) at a time. (And smell the deep corn aroma when you take the lid off!) You can also grind the corn with a small grain mill operated by hand or powered by an electric motor, or with a grain mill attachment to your food processor.
You can grind for the texture that you desire. Think of sand—fine, medium, or coarse. Feel the texture to help decide. You will not get a totally uniform size unless you separate the grind with a series of sieves. With most mills you can grind twice for more fineness or you can put the corn through a flour sifter to remove larger particles. You can save the larger particles, which will have a high percentage of the nutrient dense “germ,” to use as a garnish or regrind them.
If you use a blender, you will get a finer grind on the bottom and coarser one on the top. Running the blender longer will create more fine grains—so be careful not to create a powder (flour) unless that is what you want. Pulsing the blender and stirring with a spoon between pulses to lift the fines and allow the coarse particles to fall nearer the blades will give a more consistent grind.
Because your ground Floriani is the whole grain, it will have a light yellow to cream and brown color with pink overtones from the flecks of the red seed coats. It should feel “gritty,” but it should have a small amount of dust (flour) that sticks to your fingers.
Some people prefer a medium grind for polenta and a coarser grind for cornbread. We prefer a coarser grind for both because the variation in particle size gives more interest. Have fun and experiment!
Because your Floriani still contains the germ, you should store your whole corn and your ground corn in the refrigerator for best quality.
Polenta and Cornbread
Floriani will require more cooking time than hominy grits because it contains the germ and the bran and because it contains a much higher percentage of “hard” starch, which takes longer to soften. While some cooks simmer Floriani for up to three hours, we stop at about one hour. A longer cooking time creates a creamier and softer polenta, which might be important if you plan on serving it immediately. We usually cool it in the refrigerator and then cut it into slices or cubes for reheating or sautéing. Some say you can cut the cooking time to 20 minutes in a pressure cooker.
|
