Difference between Corn and Flour Tortillas

Tortillas.

Tortillas are one of the most popular dishes when it comes to Mexican cuisine. They can either be made of corn and flour and are used for different purposes. Corn and flour tortillas are often confused, and their usage may get mixed up from time to time. Here we will feature the difference between corn and flour tortillas.

Corn tortillas originate far back in history during the time of the Aztecs, as corn was one of their staples. The original tortillas eventually evolved to what it is today - a flavorful food with a good amount of texture. Corn tortillas tend to be on the smaller side than their flour counterparts. This is because they tend to break easily when they are larger. They are however more compatible when making enchiladas as they don’t fall apart easier when baking.  Additionally, they can withstand being soaked in enchilada sauce.

Flour tortillas possess a sweetish taste and are soft and pliable. Because of this, they can be made in larger servings and work well as wraps for dishes like burritos and quesadillas. Unlike corn tortillas, flour tortillas contain a dose of lard or vegetable shortening to bind the dough.

	Corn Tortilla	Flour Tortilla
Composition	Masa harina (ground up corn and lime), water	Wheat flour, water, lard or vegetable shortening, salt
Origin	Can be traced all the way from the time of the Aztecs	Believed to be invented by Spanish Jews in exile during the Inquisition
Characteristics	Pliable with an amount of chewy texture, smaller than flour tortillas	Soft, pliable, and wider than corn tortillas
Taste	Robust flavor with hints of toasted corn	Neutral flavor with a touch of sweetness
Great with dishes like	Tacos, tostadas, chips, taquitos, enchiladas	Burritos, fajitas, flautas, quesadillas, tacos, tostada bowls
Popularity	Very common in the borders of Mexico, south and central areas of Mexico, and in authentic Mexican restaurants	More popular in northern states and across the United States

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