Listen "Forbidden Flower - The Story of Amaranth"
Episode Synopsis
Join me on an incredible journey through history as we uncover the story of amaranth: the sacred grain that refused to die! 🌾 From its ancient origins in South and Central America to its revered role in Aztec rituals and its dramatic suppression by conquistadors, amaranth's resilience is nothing short of inspiring. I’ll share how this fascinating plant survived near extinction to become a modern superfood packed with nutrition and potential.
Discover how early farmers cultivated this grain, how it was used to create sacred effigies, and how its vibrant colors and nutritional benefits are making a comeback today. You'll hear my personal take on its incredible transformation—from a symbol of life and fertility to a lost treasure rediscovered. Plus, learn why amaranth could play a role in improving global food security.
Sources:
https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/history.panels.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/topic/agriculture/The-Americas
https://mysliceofmexico.ca/2020/10/31/traditional-sweets-alegrias-and-wafers-with-amaranth/
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/01/526033083/why-mexican-chefs-farmers-and-activists-are-reviving-the-ancient-grain-amaranth
https://www.ancientgrains.com/amaranth/amaranth-history-and-origin?srsltid=AfmBOopcaA4qygRdLCTGAXs1hjx_Sk8hnkpSyhTGD12jrr3skRi8OCdY
https://hungerandthirstforlife.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-pop-amaranth.html
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/what-is-amaranth/
https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/grain-month-calendar/amaranth-may-grain-month
https://www.wnyc.org/story/225970-last-chance-foods-amaranths-ancient-history/
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/blogs/wellness/amaranth-porridge-recipe
https://passtheflamingo.com/2017/04/12/ancient-recipe-tzoalli-amaranth-candy-aztec-prehistory-16th-century-ce/
https://seedsofindia.com/products/stem-amaranth
https://nepalitimes.com/banner/the-superfoods-of-the-andes-and-the-himalaya
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11763/chapter/3#35
https://www.ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/amaranth
https://orionmagazine.org/article/soil-and-spirit-amaranth-history/
https://www.amazon.com/Huitzilopochtli-History-Aztec-Human-Sacrifice/dp/1081689552
https://masaamerica.com/2019/06/15/amaranth-and-the-tzoalli-heresy/
https://corn.aae.wisc.edu/Crops/Amaranth.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/amaranth-flour
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871380/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_(color)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_(dye)
https://food.berkeley.edu/from-the-field/the-promise-of-amaranth/
https://pure.psu.edu/en/publications/legitimised-violence-in-colonial-spanish-america
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/16/science/ancient-forgotten-plant-now-grain-of-the-future.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871380/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/edu.psu.libraries.scholarsphere-prod/store/0bd55218fa1f6260b957a6d27703e16e.pdf
Subscribe to The History of Plants – Strange Botany, Poisonous Legends & Forgotten Flora on Soundwise
Discover how early farmers cultivated this grain, how it was used to create sacred effigies, and how its vibrant colors and nutritional benefits are making a comeback today. You'll hear my personal take on its incredible transformation—from a symbol of life and fertility to a lost treasure rediscovered. Plus, learn why amaranth could play a role in improving global food security.
Sources:
https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/history.panels.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/topic/agriculture/The-Americas
https://mysliceofmexico.ca/2020/10/31/traditional-sweets-alegrias-and-wafers-with-amaranth/
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/01/526033083/why-mexican-chefs-farmers-and-activists-are-reviving-the-ancient-grain-amaranth
https://www.ancientgrains.com/amaranth/amaranth-history-and-origin?srsltid=AfmBOopcaA4qygRdLCTGAXs1hjx_Sk8hnkpSyhTGD12jrr3skRi8OCdY
https://hungerandthirstforlife.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-pop-amaranth.html
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/what-is-amaranth/
https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/grain-month-calendar/amaranth-may-grain-month
https://www.wnyc.org/story/225970-last-chance-foods-amaranths-ancient-history/
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/blogs/wellness/amaranth-porridge-recipe
https://passtheflamingo.com/2017/04/12/ancient-recipe-tzoalli-amaranth-candy-aztec-prehistory-16th-century-ce/
https://seedsofindia.com/products/stem-amaranth
https://nepalitimes.com/banner/the-superfoods-of-the-andes-and-the-himalaya
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11763/chapter/3#35
https://www.ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/amaranth
https://orionmagazine.org/article/soil-and-spirit-amaranth-history/
https://www.amazon.com/Huitzilopochtli-History-Aztec-Human-Sacrifice/dp/1081689552
https://masaamerica.com/2019/06/15/amaranth-and-the-tzoalli-heresy/
https://corn.aae.wisc.edu/Crops/Amaranth.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/amaranth-flour
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871380/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_(color)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_(dye)
https://food.berkeley.edu/from-the-field/the-promise-of-amaranth/
https://pure.psu.edu/en/publications/legitimised-violence-in-colonial-spanish-america
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/16/science/ancient-forgotten-plant-now-grain-of-the-future.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871380/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/edu.psu.libraries.scholarsphere-prod/store/0bd55218fa1f6260b957a6d27703e16e.pdf
Subscribe to The History of Plants – Strange Botany, Poisonous Legends & Forgotten Flora on Soundwise
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