Corn is coming into abundance at this very moment, and it’s delicious as ever! After shucking the corn, have you ever wondered what to do with those silks? Our campers asked the very same question.
Corn silks have been known in Chinese Medicine to heal the bladder, gallbladder and liver. They are also considered a “cure-all” and have been brewed into tea since the Native American’s in 5000 BC. The silks provide a place for pollen to land, and allows for the pollination of each individual corn kernel.
According to this great blog post, corn silks contain:
- Vitamin C – an essential nutrient for humans
- Potassium – necessary for function of all living cells
- Allantoin – a healing agent
- Mucilage – helps soothe irritated tissues
- Saponin – an anti-inflammatory
Here’s how to make this simple healing summer brew:
Bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil and steep the silks of 1 to 2 ears of corn for 5 minutes. Drain and serve warm, or chilled.
Photo courtesy of Alternative Heat
Ohh, totally fascinating! I had no idea that you could use the silk and am so excited to try this. Thank you.
Our pleasure, it tastes super delicious! Let us know how it you liked it.