Constant harvesting of the grain encouraged the plants to grow larger and more abundantly, so maize quickly became plentiful - farmers generally got a healthy return on their invested labour. Crucially, maize is a rich carbohydrate that gives you a rapid energy hit. Unfortunately, it is also pretty stodgy, and so from very early on farmers cultivated an ingenious accompaniment - the indigenous chilli. It has limited nutritional value, but it is uniquely able to liven up dull carbohydrates - and its development and widespread use across Central America is a resounding demonstration that we've been foodies as long as we've been farmers.
N. MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 objects (2010), 47 [9: Maya maize god statue]
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