Quinoa

Quinoa is an annual herb. Today, biologists know more than a hundred of its species. Many consider quinoa an ordinary weed, but it is not, it has many useful properties, and our ancestors knew about them well.

What does a quinoa look like?

Quinoa is widespread across the globe. It can be found both in the wild and in the cultural form. The largest number of species suitable for consumption is growing in North America and Australia.

There are also fields on the European continent planted with this grass with different colors. Once the quinoa was a saving means from hunger. No wonder in France she is affectionately called the "pleasant woman", and in Germany - the "good Henry." In European countries, they used not simple, but garden quinoa, which was well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Galen also talked about the imminent saturation of the body after eating dishes from quinoa. Later, scientists found out: this plant contains a lot of protein.

Quinoa is an annual plant with upright or branched stems, about 20 to 90 cm in height. Its leaves are rhomboid, with a lance-like base and "ears", with jagged edges. Usually they are covered with a rich powdery coating, which makes them look dull. The flowers of the plant, small, are collected in several in tight glomeruli, which together form a common apical inflorescence. Flowers with a simple perianth consist of 5 leaves, fused at the base.

The quinoa blooms from early summer to September, the fruits ripen in August-October.

In Russia, this herb is found almost throughout the country, especially in its European part and in the territory of the southern regions of the Far East and Siberia. It grows like a weed in the fields, as well as in landfills, near the roadsides, along river banks, on coastal sand and gravel. Collect the plant only in environmentally friendly places.

The quinoa grass has a shelf life of 1 year, and its seeds can be stored 3 times longer.

Grass can be planted in the garden or in the country, it grows in less than a month.

Bred decorative quinoa with red leaves. It is grown for consumption and bouquets.

Read also:

• What wild herbs can you eat?
• What is wheat grass useful for?
• How to apply woodlice?
• Clover: useful properties
• Medicinal properties of amaranth flour, useful recipes

What is useful quinoa?

In young leaves and shoots of quinoa - a real storehouse of proteins, so it is superior in nutritional value to animal products. In addition, the plant is rich in potassium, routine, vitamin C and mineral salts.

• Quinoa favorably affects the entire body. It has a good tonic effect due to its high content of carotene, ascorbic acid and 17 amino acids, some of which are not synthesized at all in the human body.
• The quinoa has neither taste nor smell. Therefore, its use in culinary purposes requires a large number of aromatic spices: garlic, pepper, onion, bay leaf and parsley.

• This plant produces good burgers, which are very popular with vegetarians. Its leaves are added to fresh green salads, cabbage soup, borscht, they are pickled and harvested for the winter. The quinoa leaves, scalded with boiling water, are excellent for preparing vegetable purees.
• Garden quinoa, some are mixed into the flour, because then wheat or rye bread is more nutritious and nutritious. In addition, bread with such an additive is better baked and stored for a longer time.
• The seeds of this herb are used to make various healthy cereals. Swan porridge, the so-called swan, is eaten with milk and eggs.
• If the seeds of the plant are not thermally processed, they can be used as an excellent emetic and laxative agent. As such, the plant is simply indispensable for food poisoning and chronic constipation.
• The antibacterial effectiveness of the swan decoctions makes it possible to use this plant in the case of infectious and inflammatory diseases of absolutely all the organs of our body.
• For example, in case of inflammation of the oral cavity, 30 g of dry, crushed leaves pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and brew about 15 minutes, then the resulting infusion rinse your mouth several times a day.
• The leaves of quinoa are also used as an excellent disinfectant: they are simply applied to a fresh wound in order to prevent possible suppuration.
• Old Russian medical books also contain useful recipes with quinoa, which contribute to the treatment of hemorrhoids, sciatica, tumors, gout, heart disorders and many other diseases.

Quinoa is a useful plant that can be used for medicinal purposes, added to various dishes, used in the composition of flower compositions. This grass can be grown on the site or collected in ecologically clean areas of your area.