Tag: Andean grains

Peru is famously the home to thousands of potato varieties, and this beloved tuber is just one of many important carbohydrates in the country's diet. The question of what are the carbs in Peruvian food reveals a diverse range of foundational ingredients, including grains, tubers, and legumes, that are integral to its regional dishes.

While most people treat quinoa as a grain, consuming it much like rice or couscous, it is not a member of the grass family (Poaceae). In fact, the ancient Andean crop, with the scientific name *Chenopodium quinoa*, belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, which also includes familiar garden vegetables like spinach and beets. This botanical classification explains many of quinoa's unique nutritional and growth characteristics.