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Chisaya Mama - Ancient Incan Food
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:07 pm
by Beagle
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=15749697
What was a sacred crop to the Incas has been classified as a "super crop" by the United Nations because of its high protein content. It is a complete protein, which means it has all nine essential amino acids. It also contains the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair, and is a good source of manganese, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorous.
While many think of quinoa as a grain, the yellowish pods are actually the seed of a plant called chenopodium quinoa, native to Peru and related to beets, chard and spinach. The plant resembles spinach, but with 3- to 9-foot stalks that take on a magenta hue. The large seed heads make up nearly half the plant and vary in color: red, purple, pink and yellow.
In the Andes Mountains, where they have been growing for more than 5,000 years, quinoa plants have overcome the challenges of high altitude, intense heat, freezing temperatures and little annual rainfall. Peru and Bolivia maintain seed banks with 1,800 types of quinoa. It has been grown in the U.S. since the 1980s, when two farmers began cultivating it in Colorado.
The ancient Incan crop Quinoa (Keen-wah) is so nutritious that it can substitute for meat (great news for vegetarians). Unlike other grains, it doesn't need to be combined with other foods to form complete proteins.
The Spaniards, in their conquest of the Inca, took potatoes and corn back to the Old World. They burned the Quinoa crops, not understanding it's nutritional importance. Many Inca starved, but the plant survived in the Andes and has been rediscovered and praised by the United Nations. This food can feed the world.
Once again, we must marvel at the horticultural skills of the ancient Amerinds.
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:41 pm
by Minimalist
What kind of wine goes best with it?
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:43 pm
by Digit
The bottled kind Min!
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:56 pm
by Beagle
I don't know about wine, Min, but the Inca made a beer out of it also. I'd be curious to try that.
But wine, I would guess a full bodied red wine.
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:42 pm
by Beagle
I don't know why in the world I didn't post that article in the Ancient Agriculture thread. I may add it there. Everybody just ignore it.
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:20 pm
by Minimalist
Too late, I've already started drinking.
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:25 pm
by MichelleH
Beagle wrote:I don't know why in the world I didn't post that article in the Ancient Agriculture thread. I may add it there. Everybody just ignore it.
It's cool Beags...
After all we are a wee bit free form here...
Re: Chisaya Mama - Ancient Incan Food
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:28 pm
by Sam Salmon
Beagle wrote:This food can feed the world.
Quinoa's not much of a meal-for the most part it's as tasteless as Tofu.
Re: Chisaya Mama - Ancient Incan Food
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:09 pm
by Beagle
First of all, thanks Boss.
Sam Salmon wrote:Beagle wrote:This food can feed the world.
Quinoa's not much of a meal-for the most part it's as tasteless as Tofu.
I guess you've tried it Sam. Most grains are tasteless, like oats or shredded wheat. We usually add something to them for flavor. Take a look at commercial cereals for kids, they're loaded with sugar.
Nevertheless, this food passes for meat in it's nutritional content. Right now, I think quinoa is sold in the health food section of stores. Some enterprising person will add some honey or something and create a breakfast bar or something pre-packaged & flavored for us westerners.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:15 am
by War Arrow
Mrs. WA seems to get through a lot of quinoa during one eccentric diet regime or another. Must admit I'm not tempted to switch from my own egg-sausage-and-chips diet regime (which I can get away with due to very physically demanding job).
Hope this isn't too stupid a post. I'm a bit out of practice.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:00 am
by Digit
Well get your finger out and post more often!
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:27 am
by War Arrow
Yes Sah!
(that's me on the left, digit on the right)
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:49 am
by Digit
Nah! But you've got the right idea!
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:53 pm
by spacecase0
What kind of wine goes best with it?
I like sweet or white wine with it.
Quinoa is my favorite food, I usually mix it with cheese and have a margarita or mead with it.
Quinoa's not much of a meal-for the most part it's as tasteless as Tofu.
try the red or black kind, they have flavor, not sure how people lived on the black quinoa
I think that it is amazing that they already had plants that grew poisons that would keep animals from eating the crop, they really had the long term food supply figured out.
I wonder why I here less about amaranth than quinoa ? I thought it was from the same people.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:23 pm
by Sam Salmon
spacecase0 wrote:I wonder why I here less about amaranth than quinoa ? I thought it was from the same people.
Amaranth needs hotter weather and doesn't produce quite as much grain IIRC.
I used to grow it in my garden-Love Lies Bleeding is what the seeds were sold as never ate the grain-had no idea what it was except that it looked unique.
