How might early peoples have used corn stalks and leaves before kernels became important foods?

Before corn kernels became a primary food source, early peoples likely utilized the plant for its other properties. Evidence suggests that ancient Mexicans chewed the stalks and leaves of early corn for their sweet flavor. Additionally, the sugar and starch found within these parts of the plant were used to produce alcohol, which served as an important component in various social interactions.1

Because these uses focused on the stalks and leaves rather than the kernels, it is possible that early corn was not primarily valued for its grain, which may explain why corn remains are relatively rare in the early archaeological record.1