So it is now 2011 and I’m venturing to guess that most people out there have created some sort of New Year’s resolution dealing with food. Am I right? Here at Mayu, we love to promote all things Peru (besides our hand-knit alpaca accessories that can be purchased HERE)…
We’ve previously blogged about Peruvian foods and even provided you with some Peruvian recipes. However, I’m excited because I’ve just come across Zocalo Gourment, a company that imports Peruvian grains including Quinoa, Yuca and a whole bunch of others. If you don’t know, Quinoa is one of the healthiest (protein!) grains in the world and we are proud to say that it comes from the Andes Mountains, not far from Mayu’s artisans. Yup, they eat lots of Quinoa so they will have energy to knit our fair trade, alpaca accessories and winter fashion. Zocolo Gourmet also sells Kaniwa, another Peruvian superfood that I’ve just tried!
“Kañiwa (pronounced ka-nyi-wa) is a remarkably nutritious grain of the high Andes that has been described as helping to “sustain untold generations of Indians” in one of the world’s most difficult agricultural regions.
This species of goosefoot (flowering plant), similar to Quinoa, is grown in the Andes extreme highland environment where wheat, rye and corn grow unreliably or not at all. It is considered more resistant than any other grain crop to a combination of frost (the region where it is found frost occurs up to nine months of the year), drought, salt, and pests.
Kañiwa Grain is a protein powerhouse, providing a fully balanced meal when paired with vegetables. It has a wonderful crunchy texture and a satisfying earthy flavor that works well as a base for fish, in stir fries and soups, and even served cold in salads. It is especially tasty fried up as leftovers the next day!
Kañiwa Flour can be combined with other flours to make breads and desserts, added to soups and pudding, or made into a hot drink similar to hot chocolate. Due to its protein density and earthy flavor Kañiwa performs best when combined with other flours (either wheat or gluten-free) to make pancakes, muffins, breads and flatbreads, cookies, and other pastries.”
Next time you are looking for something new (and healthy) to spice up your cooking or baking, don’t forget Kaniwa Flour! Read about Zocalo’s responsible purchasing habits here. To happy and healthy eating in 2011!
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In the spirit of spreading the love for all the cool companies and products Mayu loves, I wanted to mention Madecasse, a company also started by past Peace Corps volunteers. The founders of Madecasse, who sell delicious chocolate (which is also presented very well), fell in love with their Peace Corps experience in Madagascar and decided to start their company to continue supporting the farmers with whom they worked. I don’t know about you, but I’m going for the Cinnamon & Sakay Chocolate bar. Yum!
The story behind Mayu is quite similar. I fell in love with the artisans and the whole experience and couldn’t get enough of the luxurious alpaca fiber that I was exposed to while living in the rural Andes. I really like Peace Corps related businesses and not-profit organizations. Just goes to show what an impact the Peace Corps has on both volunteers and host-country nationals.
