upper waypoint

Your Corn Tortilla Sucks…Science Can Fix It

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

You might think that corn tortilla from your favorite Mexican restaurant is as good as it gets, but chances are it’s made from a mass-produced corn powder. But fear not! A better corn tortilla exists and has existed for thousands of years. All you need is fresh corn and an ancient science that’s almost as old as civilization itself!

Thanks to Emmanuel Galvan, owner of Bolita Masa, for unlocking the magic of corn tortillas.

Subscribe to KQED Food’s YouTube channel to watch more Beyond The Menu videos.

Read more:
Masa by Jorge Gaviria
What is nixtamal?
How corn became corn
How the corn tortilla went corporate
The masters of masa

About Beyond The Menu:
The story of the food on your plate is more than just the recipe. Each ingredient and every cooking technique goes back hundreds if not thousands of years, traversing the globe on a wildly delicious cross-cultural adventure. In KQED’s new digital food series Beyond The Menu, host Cecilia Phillips interviews chefs, authors, and other experts to dig up surprising facts on the cultural pathways of today’s trendiest dishes. It’s a history show, it’s a mystery series, it’s a celebration of multicultural cuisine, sometimes it’s even a science program, all set against the backdrop of mouth-watering food cinematography.

Sponsored

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Chicken and Waffles: from Amish Country to HarlemThe Real-Life San Francisco Diner That Inspired Bob's BurgersFood Labeling: How to Identify Conventional, Organic and GMO ProduceA Do's and Don'ts Guide to House of Prime RibSpringtime Delight: Rhubarb Puff-Tart PocketsOakland's Hot Dog Wars: Caspers Versus Kasper'sCheck, Please: How to Pay without looking like a fool or making everyone uncomfortable.DIY Bone Broth - You Really Should be Making It at HomeEnding It All: How to Finish Your DinnerBay Area Bites Guide to 10 Favorite Sandwich Shops South of San Francisco