Quinoa Plant Peru
Chenopodium quinoa is believed to have been domesticated in the peruvian andes from wild or weed populations of the same species.
Quinoa plant peru. Since its promotion by american entrepreneurs david cusack steve gorad and don mckinley and by agricultural researcher duane johnson in the late 1970s quinoa has been hailed as a superfood and has grown in popularity around the world. For the inca civilization quinoa was a staple food second in importance after the potato. Its ability to survive in high altitudes from 2800 up to 4000 meters intense heat freezing temperatures and little rain made it an important crop on which the population could rely becoming part of the culinary culture of peru.
The quinoa plant is a native of the andean region of south america. Quinoa the protein packed seed that everyone loves to eat has taken ahold of our pantries. The plant is a member of the goosefoot family and can grow from three to seven feet high.
Although the plant prefers cooler temperatures it is otherwise very robust. Stevens found that across peru as a. Peru is the worlds largest producer of quinoa accounting for just over half of the global supply.
There are non cultivated quinoa plants chenopodium quinoa var. Neighbouring bolivia is the second largest producer accounting for just over a third. However its often called a pseudograin because its similar in nutrients and.
Description of the plant. Quinoa pronounced keen wah is the seed of the chenopodium quinoa plant. Quinoa is a crop that originated in the south american andes of peru and bolivia and was domesticated by pre columbian civilizations more than 6000 years ago.
Melanospermum that grow in the area it is cultivated. In fact it can grow in pretty poor soil. These may either be related to wild predecessors or they could be descendants of cultivated plants.
It was domesticated about 3000 to 4000 years back from weed or wild populations of the same species. The people living in the lake titicaca basin of bolivia and peru would grow this crop for consumption. Quinoa originally called the mother grain by the incas is the seed from the chenopodium quinoa plant that grows in the andes.
Until the late 20th century the plant was largely viewed as a marginal crop and was grown primarily by poor subsistence farmers in bolivia and peru. Not to mention all the different ways you can turn it into a salad.