Generality
Known to most as a food belonging to the group of cereals *, amaranth is made up of the edible seeds of some plants of the genus Amaranthus. Specifically, the species still cultivated for their seeds are A. caudatus, A. cruentus AndA. hypochondriacus.
Flowers of the Species Amaranthus caudatus, called bloody love lies
The main areas used for the cultivation of amaranth are recorded in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, India, China, Nepal and in other regions with a tropical or sub-tropical climate.
In Italy, amaranth is a very invasive spontaneous plant, which is why it is considered a pest by growers. However, small cultivation realities are also developing in our territories, thanks to the high profitability compared to traditional crops and excellent adaptation to periods of prolonged drought.
Among all, the "Amaranthus cruentus it is the most suitable and studied species for "industrial agriculture.
* Amaranth has similar nutritional characteristics, and in many ways superior, to those of cereals. However, belonging - like quinoa - to the family of Amaranthaceae and not to that of the Graminaceae, it is more correctly defined as a pseudocereal.
