2. Fast Facts Maize (known in may English-speaking countries as corn) is a grain domesticated my Mesoamericans in prehistoric times. Maize is the most widely grown crop in the Americas. Maize was introduced to Europe during the late 15th and early 16th century when traders and explorers first made contact.
3. Naming The term 'maize' derives from the Spanish form of the Tainoword maiz. This was the term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where it is now usually called “sweet corn”, the most common form of the plant known to people there. Sweet corn is harvested earlier and eaten as a vegetable rather than a grain. Outside the British Isles, another common term for maize is "corn". This was originally the English term for any cereal crop. In scientific and formal usage, "maize" is normally used in a global context. In bulk-trading contexts, "corn" is used most frequently. In the UK, Australia and other English-speaking countries, the word "corn" is often used in culinary contexts. "Maize" is used in agricultural and scientific references.
