Teff Facts
Teff Facts
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| Interesting Teff Facts: |
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| Teff has hollow, smooth, erect stem that can reach 8 to 47 inches in height. |
| Teff has narrow, folded leaf blades. |
| Teff has narrow spike (cluster of branched flowers) composed of grey or golden spikelets (smaller clusters of flowers). Each spikelet consists of up to 10 florets. Teff produces bisexual flowers (they contain both types of reproductive organs) that are designed for wind-induced pollination. |
| Seed (grains) of teff are miniature. They can be white, creamy, yellowish, purple, red or brown colored, depending on the variety. |
| Teff propagates via seed that sprout within only 36 hours. One pound of seed is required for the planting of one acre of teff. Grain is ready for the harvest 10 to 12 weeks after planting. |
| Word teff originates from Amharic word "teffa" which means "lost", due to incredible small size of grain (seed has 1/32 parts of inch in diameter). |
| Teff is whole grain. Bran and germ cannot be removed from the grain because of its small size. Since majority of nutrients are located inside these layers, teff is healthier than other types of grains. Teff is excellent source of dietary fibers, vitamins of the B group, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. |
| Teff contains resistant starch that promotes health of digestive system, stabilizes blood sugar level and facilitates weight control. Teff does not contain gluten, which makes this grain perfect for people diagnosed with celiac disease (people that cannot tolerate gluten). |
| Teff can have mild, nutty or warm, earthy taste, depending on the variety. It can be consumed in the form of grain or flour. Grains can be consumed as breakfast cereals or in the form of porridge. Flour is used for the preparation of injera (type of Ethiopian flat bread), pancakes, waffles and wraps. |
| Wild animals and cattle also eat grains of teff. |
| Teff can be used as a substitute for eggs, because it contains proteins of the albumin type, just like the egg whites. |
| Long-distance runners from Ethiopia consume teff as major source of protein and energy. |
| Teff si used in the manufacture of gluten-free beer. |
| Teff's straws mixed with mud are used as "mortar" for the building purposes. |
| Teff is an annual plant, which means that it completes its life cycle in one year. |
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