Which regions of China is quinoa mainly grown in, and when does it mature for harvest?
Quinoa originated in the Andes Mountains of South America and was praised by the ancient Incas as the “mother of grains,” with a history of consumption and cultivation dating back 5000 to 7000 years. So in China, which regions is quinoa mainly grown in? When does it mature for harvest?
Main quinoa growing regions
Quinoa is cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soils and salt-alkaline soils. China's main quinoa production areas are Lanzhou, Qinghai, Shanxi and other places. The current planting area is about 100,000 mu, but it shows a trend of increasing year by year. It is expected that the total production area in 2017 will reach about 300,000 mu.
When does quinoa mature for harvest?
Generally speaking, quinoa is usually sown in April, grows leaves in May, grows taller in June and July, flowers in August, fills grain in September, and is harvested in October. In some places, harvesting also begins in mid-to-late September.
Quinoa market price
The market price of quinoa ranges from 30-100 yuan per jin, mainly depending on its quality. Quinoa is drought-tolerant and salt-alkaline-tolerant and prefers high altitudes. The higher the altitude of the planting area, the better the quality of the quinoa.
Quinoa nutritional benefits
In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) designated it as “International Year of Quinoa” and named it “the most suitable perfect complete nutritional food for humans.” It has been called by international nutritionists the lost ancient “nutritional gold,” and is also revered by vegetarian enthusiasts as the “king of vegetarian food.”
Quinoa is a food that cooks easily and digests easily, with a unique taste and a light nutty aroma or ginseng-like fragrance. It has effects such as balancing nutritional supplementation, enhancing body functions, repairing physical constitution, regulating immunity and the endocrine system, improving the body's stress response, preventing disease, fighting cancer, aiding weight loss, and supporting treatment. It is suitable for all groups of people, especially those with chronic diseases such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high blood lipids and heart disease, as well as infants and young children, pregnant and postpartum women, children, students, the elderly, and people with special constitutions or irregular lifestyles.
However, quinoa is not better the more you eat; it should be eaten in moderation. 50 grams per day is enough to meet the body's basic nutritional needs.