Argentine Cateto Orange is an heirloom variety of flint corn with roots dating back to at least the 15th century. With its glossy, orange kernels, this widely adapted heirloom is a worthy representative of the Argentine class of flint corns, which are known for their high-carotenoid content and hard, flinty kernels. Such varieties, known commonly as Cateto flints or Argentino flints, have for centuries been regarded as high-quality grinding corns for use in making cornmeal and grits. Even today, these important heirlooms are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, fueled by a demand for higher-nutrient food. Beyond their use for grinding, orange-colored corns like Argentine Cateto are gaining a whole new following as craft distillers take note of their high carotenoid content. Carotenoids, a naturally occurring class of pigments found in plants, break down into terpene ketones (known to distillers as an 'ionones') during fermentation, imparting a rose color and floral, fruity, or hay-like aromas, depending on the particular iso-forms present in the mash. In this way, heirloom corns like Orange Cateto afford craft distillers the ability to create distinctly flavored whiskeys and bourbons, as their vast genetic diversity leads to dramatic variation in the types and quantities of natural compounds present in the barrel. In our trials, Argentine Cateto Orange held up well to drought, heat and even extreme wind events. The plants grew approximately seven to eight feet in height, producing one to two ears each. The ears were well-formed, 14-16 rows around, with densely packed, dark orange kernels. No disease or other issues were noted. Argentine Cateto matures approximately 100 days after sowing. Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.
