Pseudocereal

A pseudocereal or pseudograin is one of any non-grasses that are used in much the same way as (true cereals are grasses). Pseudocereals can be further distinguished from other non-cereal (such as ) by their being processed like a cereal: their seed can be ground into flour and otherwise used as a cereal. Prominent examples of pseudocereals include amaranth grain (love-lies-bleeding, red amaranth, Prince-of-Wales-feather), quinoa, and buckwheat.

The pseudocereals have a good nutritional profile, with high levels of essential Amino acid, essential fatty acids, Mineral, and some Vitamin. The starch in pseudocereals has small granules and low amylose content (except for buckwheat), which gives it similar properties to waxy-type cereal starches. The functional properties of pseudocereals, such as high viscosity, water-binding capacity, swelling capability, and freeze-thaw stability, are determined by their starch properties and seed morphology. Pseudocereals are gluten-free, and they are used to make 100% gluten-free products, which has increased their popularity.

---

Common pseudocereals

---

Amaranthaceae (amaranth family)

• Amaranth grain (love-lies-bleeding, red amaranth, Prince-of-Wales-feather)
• Cañahua
• Celosia (also called quail grass or soko)
• Djulis
• Goosefoot
• Pitseed goosefoot
• Hanza
• Orache
• Quinoa

---

Fabaceae (pea and bean family)

• Wattleseed (also called acacia seed; many species, most notably Acacia murrayana and Acacia victoriae)

---

Fagales (beech family)

• Acorn

---

Lamiaceae (mint and sage family)

• Salvia hispanica
• Pignut

---

Moraceae (fig and mulberry family)

• Breadnut

---

Polygonaceae (buckwheat family)

• Buckwheat
• Bitter (Tatar) buckwheat
• Tall buckwheat

---

Production This table shows the annual production of some pseudocereals in 1961,1961 is the earliest year for which FAO statistics are available. 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 ranked by 2013 production.

Buckwheat	2.5	1.4	2.3	2.3	2.5	A pseudocereal in the family Polygonaceae that is used extensively in India during fasts, and in Eurasia and to a minor degree the United States and Brazil. Major uses include various pancakes, groats, and noodle production.
Quinoa	0.03	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.10	A pseudocereal in the family Amaranthaceae, traditional to the Andes, but increasingly popular elsewhere.

Other grains that are locally important, but are not included in FAO statistics, include:

• Amaranth, an ancient pseudocereal, formerly a staple crop of the Aztec Empire, widely grown in Africa.
• Kañiwa or Cañahua, close relative of quinoa.

Post Comment