Is Quinoa Gluten-Free?

What is quinoa?

Quinoa is generally thought of as a grain, but it is actually a seed from the amaranth family that has been a staple of South American cooking for over 4000 years. In fact, the UN declared 2013 as the ‘International Year of Quinoa’ recognising Andean people and their practices in maintaining and preserving quinoa, and in turn providing food security for the future. It has become a popular ‘health’ food around the world since it has a rich nutritional profile — it contains all nine amino acids (twice the amount of rice) which makes it a fantastic source of protein. It is also a great source of fibre, and it contains high levels of vitamin B, vitamin E and minerals calcium, magnesium and manganese. 

Is quinoa gluten-free?

Yes, quinoa is gluten-free as it is a seed rather than a grain, so it contains no gluten as found in wheat or barley, for instance. If buying quinoa, make sure that there is no cross-contamination or that it isn’t a mix of quinoa and pearl barley as the latter is not gluten-free. 

Want to know more about the versatile grain? This article about the power of quinoa should be your next read.