Brightest Brilliant Rainbow Quinoa

90 to 120 days — 'Brightest Brilliant Rainbow' grows a mix of beautifully colored flower / seed heads - pink, red, burgundy, orange, yellow, white and green. Along with being quite ornamental, the seeds are harvested and used as a grain. Once dried, the seeds can be stored for later use. Additionally, young leaves can be harvested and eaten either raw or as a cooked green. Our stock is grown in the Coastal Mountain Range of Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley on the Certified Organic farm of one of our growers, Alan Adesse.

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient cultivated plant. Its use dates back to at least the Incan civilization. Although it is grown and used primarily as a grain, it is not in the grass family, and therefore not a true grain. It is actually more closely related to beets and spinach. The seeds, therefore, are high in protein and contain no gluten. With an increase in awareness about gluten allergies or sensitivities and diseases such as celiac disease, interest in quinoa is on the rise.

Used as a grain, the flavor of quinoa can range from bland to nutty and delicious. Lightly roasting before cooking enhances the flavor.  According to the USDA's Nutrition Database, quinoa contains a nearly perfect protein for human consumption. It actually is a good substitute for meat as a source for dietary protein. It is also a good source for calcium and iron. Click here for a simple quinoa side dish recipe.