Cuitlacoche
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Taco-de-Huitlacoche.jpg/220px-Taco-de-Huitlacoche.jpg)
Taco with cuitlacoche
Cuitlacoche (also huitlacoche ) is a specialty of Mexican cuisine , which consists of corn kernels infected with the fungus Ustilago maydis (disease: corn bite ) . The grains swell due to the parasite infestation and turn black. The Aztecs allegedly scratched corn kernels to make them easier to attack.
In China, a related mushroom that attacks grains of rice is consumed, as is Angkak or Japanese Kōji (red rice) , which is common in parts of East Asia .
Web links
Commons : Ustilago maydis - album with pictures, videos and audio files