{{Short description|Snack made from corn kernels}} {{Globalize|1=article|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox food | name = Corn nut | image = Cancha corn snack.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Cancha in Peru | place_of_origin = Peru | region = South America | associated_cuisine = Peruvian, Ecuadorian | creator = | course = Snack | type = | served = | main_ingredient = | minor_ingredient = Roasted or deep-fried corn kernels | variations = | calories = | other = }} right|thumb|250px|Corn nuts in a bowl
'''Corn nuts''',<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason R Karl |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320171999 |title=The Cuzco Gigante of Cornnuts | Request PDF |date=2000-01-01 |access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> also known as '''toasted corn''',<ref name="Cuzco Saveur">{{cite journal|last=Jenkins|first=Matt|date=November 2010|title=Quest for Corn|journal=Saveur|publisher=Bonnier|issue=133|pages=26, 28|issn=1075-7864|quote=Albert Holloway of Oakland, California, first sold the fried, salted whole kernels in the 1930s under the name Olin's Brown Jug Toasted Corn [...] which Holloway later rebranded CornNuts}}<!--|access-date=2012-02-26 --></ref> are a snack food made of roasted or deep-fried corn kernels. It is referred to as '''''cancha''''' in Peru, '''''chulpi''''' in Ecuador, '''''kikones''''' in Spain, and '''cornick''' in the Philippines.
== Preparation == Corn nuts are prepared by soaking whole corn kernels in water for three days, then deep-frying them in oil until they are hard and brittle. The kernels are soaked because they shrink during the harvesting and cleaning process, and rehydration returns them to their original size.
== History == Corn nuts originated in Peru and are called cancha, where they have been prepared for over 1,000 years. They are found in Ecuador and Brazil as well.
==Varieties and brands== [[File:09679jfFilipino cuisine foods desserts breads Landmarks Bulacanfvf 02.jpg|thumb|250px|Cornick from the Philippines]]
=== CornNuts === In 1936, entrepreneur Olin Huntington first introduced the corn nut to the United States, producing them to be handed out at bars for free, but a recently introduced law in California banned the distribution of free food at watering holes. Subsequently, another man named Allan Holloway obtained the company and began selling the product at stores. He then trademarked the name Corn Nuts (sometimes written as "CornNuts") in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 October 2023 |title=What Exactly Are Corn Nuts and How Did They Get So Popular? |url=https://www.chowhound.com/1420322/what-are-corn-nuts-snack-history/}}</ref>
Holloway later renamed his product CornNuts. After Holloway and his sons Maurice and Rich learned of a breed of corn grown in Cusco, Peru (often referred to as Cuzco corn<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason R Karl |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314837907 |title=Giant maize: Cuzco, Jala, and Tehua | Request PDF |date=2015-12-01 |access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref>) that grew large kernels (some said to have been bigger than a quarter), the company researched developing a hybrid of the Cusco corn that could be grown effectively in California. After a decade of research, the company introduced CornNuts made with the hybrid variety in 1964.<ref name="CornNuts Chow">{{cite web|url=http://www.chow.com/food-news/54113/what-are-cornnuts/|title=What Are CornNuts?|access-date=2009-02-27|last=Foley|first=Michelle|date=2007-09-12|work=Chow|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref> CornNuts sold on the market today are no longer of the large Cusco corn size.
The most popular brand, CornNuts, was owned by Holloway's original family company until the company was purchased by Nabisco<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pacciorini|first=Albert C.|date=1997-11-06|title=Nabisco to Buy California-Based Cornnuts for Undisclosed Amount|periodical=The Monterey County Herald}}</ref> in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nabisco Agrees to Buy Cornnuts, Snack Food Producer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/06/business/company-news-nabisco-agrees-to-buy-cornnuts-snack-food-producer.html |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=6 November 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |date=2000-03-21 |title=Former Cornnuts President Appointed as National Sales Director |publisher=Baywood International}}</ref> '''Cornnuts''' was a registered trademark of Kraft Foods.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.inovia.com/products/directory/trademarks-number-71593413/cornnuts-trademark-owned-by-kraft-foods-group-brands-llc | title=Trademark 'CORNNUTS' owned by 'Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC' | work=inovia | access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref> On February 11, 2021, Kraft sold the Planters and Corn Nuts brands to Hormel Foods.<ref>{{cite news |author=Amelia Lucas |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Kraft Heinz sells nuts business, including Planters, to Hormel for $3.35 billion |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/11/kraft-heinz-sells-nuts-business-including-planters-to-hormel-for-3point35-billion.html |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref> Corn Nuts are available in eight flavors: Original, Ranch, BBQ (barbecue-flavored), Chile Picante con Limon, Mexican Style Street Corn, Jalapeño Cheddar, Kickin' Dill Pickle, and Loaded Taco.<ref>{{cite web |title=Products |website=cornnuts.com |url=https://www.cornnuts.com/products/ |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref>
=== Cornick === {{Main|Cornick (food)}} A Filipino variant of corn nuts is cornick ({{langx|fil|kornik}}). Compared to the American variety, cornick pieces are typically smaller and crispier. They are also traditionally made from glutinous corn. Garlic is the most common flavor of cornick, with other common flavors including: chili cheese, adobo, barbecue, lechón manok (also known as roasted chicken), and sweet. Major brands include Boy Bawang (literally "Garlic Boy" in Tagalog, commonly sold in small packets), Corn Bits, and Safari.
A popular variety of cornick is the lighter, chicharrón-like ''chichacorn'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chichacorn.com/history.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090415141205/http://chichacorn.com/history.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-04-15|title=Company History|access-date=2009-02-27|publisher=Ilocos Food Products}}</ref> a semi-popped style of cornick using glutinous corn from the Ilocos Region<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/news/press%20releases/jun%202004/prmay04%20-%20113.htm |title=Experts Identify Promising Glutinous Corn Varieties for Green Corn and "Cornick" Production |access-date=2009-02-27 |last=Palma |first=Ireneo B. |year=2004 |publisher=Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050224090910/http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/news/press%20releases/jun%202004/prmay04%20-%20113.htm |archive-date=February 24, 2005 }}</ref> which is treated with lime before frying.<ref>See also: nixtamalization</ref>
=== Diana === Diana, a snack company in El Salvador, makes a variety of corn-nut-like snacks. These are called {{Lang|es|elotitos}} in Spanish, or ''cornbits''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diana.com.sv/?prd=3|title=Diana snacks, El Salvador, Elotitos |access-date=2011-04-23}}</ref> These come in a variety of seasonings, such as Lemon, Cheese and Chili, and Barbecue. These are sold throughout Central America.
== Portugal and Spain == In both Portugal and Spain, corn nuts are often eaten as a popular snack. In Spain, they are known as {{Lang|es|kikones}}, or {{Lang|es|maíz tostado}} ("toasted corn"), {{Lang|es|maíz frito}} ("fried corn"), {{Lang|es|quicos}} ("Frankies") and {{Lang|es|pepes}} ("Joes"), and in Portugal, they are sold under the name {{Lang|pt|milho frito}} (fried corn).
The base flavor tends to be very salty. Some brands have barbecue versions available.
Recently, crushed corn nuts have been introduced in Spain as a cover for battering.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Mónica |title=El abecé del rebozado |url=https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcomidista/2015/09/17/articulo/1442515121_275435.html |website=El Comidista |publisher=Ediciones El País |access-date=24 April 2020 |ref=Comidista |language=es |date=22 September 2015 |quote=Celentano se atreve con 'copos de maíz (tipo Cornflakes), maiz tostado molido, copos de avena u otros cereales –el pollo con copos de avena y coco rallado es una cosa seria– o semillas (sésamo natural y negro, amapola para pescado)'. }}</ref>
==See also == {{Portal|Food}} * Corn snack * List of edible seeds * List of maize dishes * Puffed grain * Soy nut
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.cornnuts.com/ CornNuts] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121115105629/http://www.planters.com/cornnuts/ CornNuts] at Planters.com *[https://www.productosdiana.com/ Diana snacks]
{{Corn}} {{Kraft Foods Group}} {{Mondelez}}
Category:Products introduced in 1936 Category:Edible nuts and seeds Category:American snack foods Category:Peruvian cuisine Category:Ecuadorian cuisine