Taste sensation

There are plenty of nasty culinary experiences to be had. Stories abound with variations on the themes of Moctezuma’s revenge and bizarre local specialties. Then there are the times a taste will take you into a whole new territory, far removed from your normal points of reference. It happened to me when I first tried huitlacoche - a mushroom-like delicacy known in English as Mexican truffle, corn fungus, or the even more intriguing corn smut.

A couple of Mexican friends were devouring innocent-looking quesadillas with gusto. I was urged to take a bite, then noticed a black substance oozing from the sides. With my limited Spanish I could only catch the phrases ‘found in corn’, ‘a kind of pest’. Images of corn-dwelling critters stuck around for a while, even after reassurances I was eating a vegetable, but the taste just blew me away.

These infected corn kernels turn to silky, inky-black bubbles when sautéed. On the tongue, they release the complex, earthy flavour that enraptures the initiated.

I’ll keep waiting for my next taste sensation.

- Dolores Welt

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