by Steven Nyland, OrganicCrops. Posted on 21 March 2016, 08:51 hrs

We already know that quinoa is good for you. It is a healthy alternative for staple products such as rice and wheat. It has gone beyond the hipster’s salad. In fact, quinoa is going mainstream and food producers have come to realize this as well. Shops and supermarkets carry, besides regular quinoa seeds, quinoa flakes, and quinoa flour, many different products that have quinoa as a main ingredient. In this article, we’ll have a look at new and innovative food and beverages that are made from or made with quinoa.

A quick tour in the supermarket learns that you can already buy a lot of products made with quinoa such as pasta, crumbs, flour, pizza, shakes, beer, soups, grain mixes, granola, snack bars to name a few. Quinoa is a versatile product that can be used to create healthy, tasty food and beverage products that appeal to hipsters and mainstream consumers alike. Let’s have a look at what the food industry has come with recently:

1. Quinoa Vodka

Ever tried quinoa on the rocks? Fair Quinoa Vodka is made from Fair Trade organic quinoa by French distiller Fair. It is the result of a two-year research project between Andean farmers and the spirit and winemaker.

2. Ready to Eat Salads

A healthy quinoa lunch straight out of a box. Del Destino offers ready to eat salads such as this delicious looking Quinoa Salad with Mango, Hearts of Palm, and Piquillo Peppers. Made with pre-cooked Peruvian Quinoa.

3. Instant Quinoa

We know Quinoa flour. And know there also is instant quinoa powder. Canadian Organika offers organic gelatinized quinoa powder you can add to your meal or create an instant super healthy smoothie.

4. Quinoa Applesauce

The kids will love it. Applesauce or apple puree with quinoa. Bolivian Comrural sells a jar full of vitamins, fiber, omega 3 and omega 6. Should be great with pork chops or just as a quick snack in between meals.

5. Quinoa Crisps

Quinoa crisps with salt and vinegar. Can’t go more British than that. These crisps with a typical nutty quinoa flavor are produced without trans-fats, artificial colors and flavors by Texas-based Simply7

6. Flavored Quinoa dishes

California-based Urbane Grain offers nine all natural innovative side dishes made with Quinoa. How about quinoa flavored with miso, edamame, scallions. Sounds absolutely delicious.

7. Quinoa Whiskey

Feel like an earthy and nutty flavored whiskey? Even though Corsair’s Quinoa Whiskey has been on the market for a while, not a lot of people know about this unusual American whiskey pot distilled from quinoa and malted barley. Cheers!

8. Quinoa drinkable snacks

Organic, vegan, gluten-free and light. Nuwi’s fruity quinoa drinkable snacks are guilt-free snacks made with organic quinoa flour.

Special mention: MacQuinoa

Mc Donalds in Germany introduced the ‘Veggie Clubhouse’ as an experiment in 2015. The burger caught on and is now sold at McDonald restaurants nation-wide.

Quinoa is here to stay

Quinoa is slowly becoming a mainstream product. And for good reason. It is a healthy and tasty grain (actually it is a seed) that can be used is many ways to enrich food and beverages. I am curious when we’ll see quinoa ice cream or a variety of quinoa biscuits in the shops.

Want to know more about Quinoa?

If you want to learn more about quinoa, I recommend you read OrganicCrop’s Quinoa frequent asked questions (faq).

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