Festival de Maíz

The Festival de Maíz, held annually the last week of August, is Danlí [1]’s major yearly party. Featured are music (usually including many of Honduras [2]’s top artists), dancing, bullfights, a parade, and many different corn products for sale. Next door to the tourism office is an office dedicated solely to the festival that can provide a detailed schedule of events (tel. 504/9834-8613, eliohe [at] yahoo [dot] com).

Having created an entire festival around corn, it’s only fitting that danlidenses have come up with a host of drinks and snacks made from this humble grain.

Those made of fresh corn can be found in found stands around the park during the festival, in particular:

• tamalitos — small tamales made of fresh corn normally served with a dollop of cream
• montucas — larger tamales of fresh corn with pork or chicken
• atol — a corn pudding served warm, thin, and drinkable; warm, thick, and eaten with a spoon; or cooled and cut into chunks
• guirilas — fat tortillas of fresh corn
• elotes — corn on the cob

Other corn-based products popular year-round include:

• chicha — corn liquor
• tortillas de maíz — tortillas of dried corn flour
• tamales — made of dried corn, usually without meat inside
• nacatamales — like a tamal, but with meat (typically pork or chicken)