Teff is a cereal grain native to northeastern Africa and southwestern Arabia. Although its history can be traced as far back as 4000 B.C., Europeans only became aware of its existence in the late 1700s when the Italian naturalist Attilio Zuccagni presented a dissertation on the foreign plant in Florence, having studied its biology and assigning its still accepted scientific name – eragrostis tef. The word teff draws its origins from the Amharic teffa, meaning ‘lost’, owing to its tiny grains, or to the Arabic tahf.
Teff is the world’s tiniest grain, measuring just 0.8 mm in diameter – 1/150th the size of a grain of wheat
Teff is a whole grain cereal: in fact, given that the seed is so small, it is not feasible to separate the germ from the husk, and so the whole seed is maintained when ground into flour. This results in much richer nutritional content, and an exceptional intake of dietary fiber.
High levels of fiber, calcium, potassium and easily absorbable iron, along with complex carbohydrates (slowly digestible starch) mean that teff consumption confers a low glycemic index, rendering it appropriate for diabetics, weight loss diets, and athletes looking for added training resistance.
Teff is naturally gluten-free, which makes it an appealing food source for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Along with other alternative grains such as millet, sorghum and quinoa, teff is fast becoming a staple food for people who want to enjoy a health-conscious diet, due to its exceptional nutritional values. Teff grain has a delicate, slightly sweet, somewhat nutty taste. The darker the variety, the more accentuated the flavor. Raw grains can be added to recipes that call for pine nuts, peanuts, etc., and as a thickener in soups, stews and casseroles. In vegetarian dishes, cooked grains can be used with other ingredients such as beans or tofu patties in a variety of preparations. Teff flakes can also be prepared as a hot porridge for a hearty breakfast, served with honey or sliced fresh fruit. In other recipes such as cookies, cakes, pie crusts and pancakes, teff can replace ordinary wheat flour with excellent results.
Teff Heaven
Contrada Monte Altino, 5
86035 Larino (CB) Italy
Email: info@teffheaven.com