What’s in quinoa? Kündig explains during a trip to Bolivia

Quinoa, also known as rice millet, has been known as a cultivated plant for around 5000 years. Like buckwheat, it belongs to the pseudocereals and is a plant species from the goosefoot genus in the foxtail family. The quinoa plant originally comes from South America. There it was already cultivated by the Incas in the highlands of the Andes.
Quinoa is a plant that is primarily known for its edible seeds. The plant itself has large leaves that are serrated at the edges and a tall stalk that usually grows between 1 and 3 meters high. The flowers are usually white, pink or purple to almost black and appear in long branched panicles.

What makes quinoa unique, however, is its foliage, which often shimmers in different shades of green and has a silky texture. The leaves are slightly hairy, which gives them a soft appearance. As quinoa has a strong resistance to adverse weather conditions, it is able to grow at different altitudes,
grow at different altitudes. This has made quinoa one of the most important crops in the Andes.
The small seeds, the size of mustard seeds, are rich in minerals and protein and are also gluten-free. These properties make it very suitable for allergy sufferers and extremely popular in vegetarian and vegan cuisine.
Quinoa can be used in many different ways. It can be used as a rice substitute, for muesli mixes, for gluten-free beer and in vegetarian cuisine. Today, quinoa is grown all over the world, but Quinoa Real comes from Bolivia.

We quickly noticed the popularity of quinoa at Kündig. Overall, quinoa is a great product that can be integrated into the diet in a variety of ways and offers numerous health benefits. We at Kündig therefore work closely with our partners in Bolivia to provide our customers with high-quality quinoa. In Bolivia, our quinoa is grown in Altiplano (high plateau) and then delivered to El Alto for final processing and storage. Our farmers and the local producer have been certified organic and Fairtrade for over a decade, guaranteeing top quality and sustainability.

On this year’s trip to our quinoa producers, our colleague had the opportunity to experience Bolivia’s impressive nature and get to know the region’s rich culture. A particular highlight was participating in the quinoa harvest at over 3,700 meters above sea level, working alongside local farmers. This year’s harvest produced different results in the various regions. Some areas suffered from a lack of water and frost, which affected the harvest. Nevertheless, we are confident in our Bio Suisse and Fairtrade cooperative and expect a good harvest.

Thanks to many years of cooperation with our partners, we can offer you high-quality and sustainably grown quinoa that is not only of excellent quality for you, but also respects the environment. As working with local communities has given us deep insights into the importance of sustainability and adaptability, we are proud to be able to contribute to the promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Please contact us for more information.