The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic

Podcast: Gastropod (LS 68 · TOP 0.05% what is this?)Episode: The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl BasicPub date: 2025-03-11Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationQuinoa is everywhere these days, the base for a million salads and grain bowls. But, until recently, barely anyone outside the nutritious seed's ancient's homeland—the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes—had ever heard of it. This week, we're telling the story of how a gorgeous spinach-like plant traditionally grown in a remote, high-altitude region of South America was transformed into one of the hottest foods on the shelves at Whole Foods. This is a tale that began with Coloradan hippies, the deliberate invention of a new Peruvian gastronomy, and beer, but truly took off when the United Nations declared that this so-called "superfood" was the secret to solving global hunger, adapting to climate change, and rescuing Andean farmers from poverty. So, did quinoa deliver? Listen in now for the story behind your next Buddha bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesThe podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.