Foods A-Z - Q is for Quinoa

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Quinoa is a flowering, herbaceous, annual plant that is cultivated primarily for its edible seeds. It originated in the Andean region of South America and was first used to feed livestock 5-7 thousand years ago. It was first used for human consumption 3-4 thousand years ago in Peru and Bolivia. It has been grown in the United States since 1983. Quinoa prices have tripled between 2006-2013 because of its popularity in North America, Europe and Australia. Quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein, versatile, etc.; and it has been chosen as an experimental crop in NASA's program for long-duration human occupied space flights. Quinoa seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. Photo Credit: Pixabay