Corn smut is a parasitic fungus that attacks maize, especially its fruits, but also its flowers. The up to 4 cm large galls on the cobs are edible young (before the black spores form) and are considered a delicacy in Mexico. They taste sweet, nutty and mushroom-like. As Cuitlacoche or “Mexican truffle” the galls are fried together with other ingredients and served, for example, on tacos and quesadillas. It has also been appreciated in Switzerland for a number of years as an edible mushroom.

The spores can trigger allergic reactions. Occasionally poisoning symptoms have been described after the consumption of Corn smut. Recent studies have shown that these were caused by a simultaneous infection of the cobs with moulds.

The pictures show infections of the varieties ‘Verrel’ (a sweet corn) and ‘Painted Mountain’ (a starch corn).

• Culinary Group Mushrooms
• Taste nutty sweet
• Trivial Names Maisbeulenbrand, Maisbrand, Huitlacoche, Cuitlacoche, Mexikanischer Trüffel, Corn smut, Mexican truffle, Charbon du maïs, Truffe mexicaine, Champignon du maïs, Caviar aztèque
• Size (single gall) 2-3 cm
• Taxonomy Ustilaginaceae Ustilago maydis
• Origin Mesoamerica (Map)
• Locality Gaby Försterling, Naturgarten Hessen 2018