Pseudocereal

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Quinoa, a common pseudocereal

A pseudocereal or pseudograin is one of any non-grasses that are used in much the same way as

Prince-of-Wales-feather), quinoa, and buckwheat.[1] The pseudocereals have a good nutritional profile, with high levels of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals, and some vitamins. The starch in pseudocereals has small granules and low amylose content (except for buckwheat), which gives it similar properties to waxy-type cereal starches.[2] 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. [2]

Common pseudocereals

Production

The following table shows the annual production of some pseudocereals in 1961,[3] 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 ranked by 2013 production.[4]

Grain Worldwide production
(millions of metric tons)
Notes
1961 2010 2011 2012 2013
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 and now widely grown in Africa.
  • Kañiwa or Cañahua, close relative of quinoa
    .

References

  1. ^ "Glossary of Agricultural Production, Programs and Policy". University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  2. ^ a b Schoenlechner, Bender, Regine, Denisse (2020). "Pseudocereals for Global Food Production". Cereals & Grains Association.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. FAO
    statistics are available.
  4. ^ "ProdSTAT". FAOSTAT. Retrieved 26 December 2006.