A pseudocereal or pseudograin is one of any non-grasses that are used in much the same way as cereals (true cereals are grasses). Pseudocereal can be further distinguished from other non-cereal staple crops (such as potatoes) by their being processed like a cereal: their seed can be ground into flour and otherwise used as a cereal. Prominent examples include amaranth (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 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. 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.

Taxonomic range

Amaranthaceae

• Amaranth (love-lies-bleeding, red amaranth, Prince-of-Wales-feather)

• Cañahua

• Cockscomb, also called quail grass or soko

• Djulis

• Goosefoot

• Pitseed goosefoot

• Hanza

• Orache

• Quinoa

Fabaceae

• Wattleseed, also called acacia seed. There are many species, including sandplain wattle and elegant wattle.

Fagales

• Acorn

Lamiaceae

• Chia

• Pignut

Moraceae

• Breadnut

Polygonaceae

• Buckwheat

• Bitter (Tatar) buckwheat

• Tall buckwheat

Production

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

References