It’s no secret that Idaho is thought for its potatoes. However there’s one other crop sprouting in reputation that’s grown proper right here in Idaho.
Second to Ethiopia, in keeping with The Teff Firm, Idaho is likely one of the highest producers of an historical grain referred to as teff.
Teff originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea and dates again 1000’s of years. It’s a staple meals in Ethiopia that’s used to make a skinny, pancake-like fermented flatbread known as injera – which is eaten with spicy stews and sauces at each meal.
“Idaho is known for potatoes, clearly, however should you speak to Ethiopian or Eritrean folks across the nation, Idaho is known for teff!” The Teff Firm Advertising and Agriculture Supervisor Royd Carlson stated.
The tremendous grain, concerning the dimension of a poppy seed, is grown in varied colours, together with white, pink, and darkish brown. It has a refined earthy, nutty taste and is excessive in protein, calcium, iron, and fiber.
In Boise, Kibrom’s – an Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant off State Street – makes use of teff to make injera and sells The Teff Firm’s Maskal Teff to clients.
Grown in Idaho
So how did teff land in Idaho’s fields?
The The Teff Firm has been producing and promoting the crop in Idaho for the final 35 years. “We’ve got been an vital provider to the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities right here within the USA, and now we have slowly been introducing different folks to teff as effectively,” Carlson stated.
It began when founder Wayne Carlson spent a number of years in Ethiopia working in public well being within the Seventies.
“Within the Nineteen Eighties, many Ethiopian folks got here to the US as refugees from famine and political instability,” Royd Carlson stated. “Wayne knew the significance of teff to them and began encouraging some native Idaho farmers to start out producing teff to fill the necessity.”
In keeping with Carlson, Idaho’s scorching, dry summers make for the right situations to provide teff. Idaho can be a terrific place to develop it as a result of teff rotates effectively with a number of of the opposite widespread crops discovered on this space and can be a lightweight consumer of sources, similar to water and fertilizer. At the moment, The Teff Firm grows the grain within the Treasure and Magic Valleys.
Gluten-free possibility
Whereas teff has been a staple in Ethiopian meals for hundreds of years, it’s rising in reputation for bakers, cooks, and people with celiac illness needing a gluten-free grain. Along with promoting the grain, The Teff Firm additionally makes teff flour for baking.
“We distribute all through the US, significantly to bigger metropolitan facilities with bigger Ethiopian and Eritrean populations similar to Washington DC, Minneapolis, Seattle, and others – typically in ethnic markets,” Carlson stated.
Domestically, its merchandise will be discovered at grocery shops throughout the Treasure Valley, together with Boise Co-op places, Albertsons, and Complete Meals. It’s additionally sold on Teff’s website in addition to on Amazon.
“We intention to proceed to extend our teff manufacturing to help rising demand for teff,” Carlson stated. “We hope that teff can develop in significance as an Idaho crop,” Carlson stated. “We see loads of potential in growing new markets for teff as extra folks achieve consciousness of it.”
For varied recipes, together with easy methods to make gluten-free baked items and different dishes, click here.
