Teff was first domesticated in Ethiopia more than 3,000 years ago, and today it is the most widely planted crop in the country. Very small seeded; about 1/6th the size of alfalfa seed, most teff seed is coated to make it more compatible with planting equipment. Although technically a seed from the Eragrostis tef plant, commonly called Williams' lovegrass or annual bunch grass, teff functions as a whole grain, similar to barley, wheatberries, and quinoa.Unlike wheat, teff, a type of millet, is a gluten-free grain choice suitable for most people with celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten. Lovegrass Ethiopia is on a mission to share the benefits and the uniqueness of Ethiopian Teff with the world and in so doing open a fair market and tell the story of the traditional farmer. Not only does Teff offer a high source of B vitamins but it is the only grain or cereal known to offer significant amounts of Vitamin C [22] However, it does not tolerate frost. [16][17] This led the government to partially lift the export ban in 2015. [6], According to a study in Ethiopia, farmers indicated a preference among consumers for white teff over darker colored varieties. Teff, one of the smallest, 1/32 inch in diameter seed, is grown by over six million farming households in Ethiopia. It was time to tell the story of the ancient journey of Teff and the Ethiopian farmers who toiled for millennia to bring this versatile grain to the world. Teff is a staple crop in the East African country that yields a mixed red-and-white seed the size of a poppy. Teff (Eragrostis tef) as a raw material for malting, brewing and manufacturing of gluten-free foods and beverages: a review. Teff seed is very small and as raw, untreated seed averages 1.3 million per pound & is difficult to sow, for this reason, most growers prefer coated seed. Teff grass seed utilizing top varieties of teff seeds is grown by allied Seed. [10], Teff is mainly cultivated in Ethiopia and Eritrea, where it originates. Teff can resist water-logging conditions associated with these regions, however, initial germination of the seed requires specific attention to prevent seed rot in the ground. It should all be a distant memory now, as I left it all for Europe having won a university scholarship nearly three decades ago. [17] Because of its potential as an economic success, a few other countries, including the US and some European countries, are already cultivating teff and selling it on domestic markets. "Teff the new superfood grain - just don't call it the new quinoa", "As Americans embrace Ethiopian cuisine, its farmers grow more teff", "Teff, the Ethiopian superfood that used to be banned", "Teff could be the next quinoa as Ethiopia boosts exports", http://www.fao.org/traditional-crops/teff/en/, "Genome and transcriptome sequencing identifies breeding targets in the orphan crop tef (, "Genome and transcriptome sequencing identifies breeding targets in the orphan crop tef (Eragrostis tef)", "Semi-dwarfism and lodging tolerance in tef (Eragrostis tef) is linked to a mutation in the α-Tubulin 1 gene", "Semi-dwarf tef lines for high seed yield and lodging tolerance in Central Ethiopia", "Technology generation to dissemination: lessons learned from the tef improvement project", "Significance and prospects of an orphan crop tef", "Teff patents declared invalid, 'great news' for Ethiopia", "Ethiopia: Teffgate - a Dutchman's Conning of the Ethiopian State", "THE PATENTING OF ETHIOPIA'S TEFF BY A EUROPEAN COMPANY, AND THE COUNTRY'S RECOURSE", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Teff&oldid=998117276, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 January 2021, at 22:20. [13] Teff is believed to have originated in Eritrea and Ethiopia between 4000 BC and 1000 BC. [20] As a nutritious fodder, teff is used to feed ruminants in Ethiopia and horses in the United States. A nutritional powerhouse, it is packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre, … After finishing my education in Europe and becoming a certified Financial Risk Manager, I spent 17 years working in some of the world’s top investment banks. Teff can be eaten as a breakfast porridge in similar consistency to cream of wheat that is topped with berries and chopped nuts. [6] Teff is similar to millet and quinoa in cooking, but the seed is much smaller and cooks faster, thus using less fuel. Teff, also known as ‘Eragrostis Tef’ or ‘Williams Lovegrass’ is a tiny seed native to Ethiopia and Eritrea. URL: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The preferred alt… • Iron can help reduce dizziness, cognitive impairment, muscle cramps, and headaches. A nutritional powerhouse, it is packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein and prebiotics (which your gut will love). The usefulness of Teff, however, goes way beyond Injera – Teff Flour is extremely versatile as it works as a fantastic gluten free replacement for conventional flour. Throughout Ethiopia each village grows its own unique variety of Teff seed – keeping a natural diversity unparalleled to any other crop in the world. The coating lowers the seed count per pound but increases the size & ballast of the seed for easier distribution by planters and more accurate seed … • Teff is a great source of easily digestible protein (similar structure to egg white but vegetable based so easier for the body to digest). [7] The seeds are very small, about a millimeter in length, and a thousand grains weigh approximately 0.3 grams. HPFI's CEO, Jan Roosjen, had taken out two patents on teff in 2003 and 2007, claiming that his way of milling and storing the flour was unique. Since then, I’ve discovered many uses to keep my relationship with teff growing. The word ‘teff’ is thought to have come from the Ethiopian word ‘teffa’ which means ‘lost’ due to the extremely small size of the grain. It is an ancient grain from Ethiopia and Eritrea, and comprises the … South African J. Review on Economics of Teff in Ethiopia Introduction Teff (Eragrostis teff) is an ancient tropical cereal crop that has its center of origin and diversity in the northern Ethiopian highlands from there it is believed to have been domesticated [8,25,26]. • Teff has been recommended to patients suffering from anemia. HPFI went bankrupt in 2009, allowing Roosjen to continue to utilize those patents and the marketing rights for the grain while being freed from the original agreement with Ethiopia. To ensure that the domestic production would not be minimized, the export licenses have only been granted to 48 commercial farmers which had not cultivated the plant before. Teff seeds can stay viable several years if direct contact with humidity and sun is avoided. For thousands of years the Ethiopian people have used Teff as the main ingredient of their staple food ‘Injera’ - a sourdough bread with spongy texture. Farmers cut the plants at soil surface, pile them up in the field and transport them to the threshing area. Its roots are shallow, but develop a massive fibrous rooting system. [6][18] Teff is the main ingredient to prepare injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread. Dessie teff seed, also known as lovegrass seed, is one of those varieties. Encyclopaedia Britannica. What is Teff? Transformation of tef (Eragrostis tef) by Agrobacterium through immature embryo regeneration system for inducing semi-dwarfism. The fiber content in teff is also higher than in most other cereals. Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter. It is a tiny seed, less than 1 mm in diameter, making it smaller than a poppyseed. Share this: THE TEFF COMPANY. Teff, also known as ‘Eragrostis Tef’ or ‘Williams Lovegrass’ is a tiny seed native to Ethiopia and Eritrea. [7] Teff is a fine-stemmed, tufted grass with large crowns and many tillers. The suggested seeding rate for drills planting coated seed is 8 to 10 pounds per acre, 10 to 14 pounds per acre when broadcast. The field can be subsequently rolled. It has a yeast that naturally lives on the seed, so it ferments very … Food Sci. The base of all Ethiopian meals is teff injera. Teff has been the oldest grain for more than 3000 years and it is widely planted crop in Ethiopia and Eritrea. For Your Gut It’s a species of lovegrass, native to Ethiopia, where it’s an important grain and used to make injera or keyta. Teff also known as Eragrostis tef is a tiny seed-like species of lovegrass native to the highlands of Ethiopia. By accessing lovegrass.com you are agreeing to our use of cookies. [19] During meals, it is often eaten with meat or ground pulses. Teff is a gluten free seed that has a rich, nutty flavour. Teff is considered responsible for the health and vigor of Ethiopian distance runners. In addition; teff is an untouched cereal crop at worldwide than other Ethiopian consumers buy the seed from farmers or traders and ground it into flour to make a pancake-like fermented spongy bread called injera, which can be consumed two or … Farming families have been growing this ancient grain in the Ethiopian highlands for over 3,000 years. In Ethiopia, Teff is mostly used to make injera – a sourdough, spongy flatbread similar in width to a pancake. Cooked teff is 75% water, 20% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and less than 1% fat (table). [6] As for many ancient crops, teff is quite adaptive and can grow in various environmental conditions;[6] particularly, teff can be cultivated in dry environments, but also under wet conditions on marginal soils. [7] In Ethiopia, teff is mostly produced during the main rain season, between July and November. Cereals and pulses. [35] Areas of further development include: "(i) improving productivity of teff; (ii) overcoming the lodging malady; (iii) developing climate-smart and appropriate crop and soil management options; (iv) developing tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and soil acidity; (v) developing suitable pre- and post-harvest mechanization technologies suitable for smallholder farmers as well as commercial farms; (vi) food processing and nutrition aspects with special attention to the development of different food recipes and value-added products; (vii) developing crop protection measures against diseases, insect pests and weeds; and (viii) improving or strengthening socio-economics and agricultural extension services. [6][18] Teff grass can be used as a construction material when mixed with mud to plaster the walls of local grain storage facilities. [21] It is a source of animal feed, especially during the dry season, and it is often preferred over straw of other cereals. [29] Moreover, teff offers some promising opportunities for breeding programs: the first draft of the Eragrostis tef genome was published in 2014 and research institutes have started selecting for more resistant varieties. It's used most commonly in the flatbread injera, which is eaten across East Africa. More than 6 million Ethiopian households grow teff, and in 2012, the national production was valued at $1.6 billion. In: Brink, M.; Belay, G. (eds), PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa/Ressources végétales de l'Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Teff being drought-resistance rice is a staple food crop of Ethiopia, and the grain dates back to the Abyssinian civilisation. (2006). [6][8] In Ethiopia, teff provides two-thirds of the daily protein intake. [8] It is grown for its edible seeds and also for its straw to feed the cattle. Gebremariam, M.M., Zarnkow, M. & Becker, T. (2014). It is the national dish for both countries. [42]' The deadline for Roosjen to appeal the decision expired in 2019, officially allowing Ethiopia access to Dutch teff markets. For Circulation [24] Teff is traditionally sown or broadcast by hand, on firm, humid soil. In 2014 I noticed that some health food stores around the City of London where I worked had Teff on their shelves. 24.05.17. Cheng, A., Mayes, S., Dalle, G., Demissew, S. & Massawe, F. (2017). Tefera, H.; Belay, G., 2006. [28] Teff is traditionally threshed by using animals walking on the harvest. • IBS sufferers have claimed Teff has been life-changing as it relieves inflammation, constipation, bloating, cramping, and other serious gastrointestinal issues. It's proper name is Eragrostis tef, and it is native to the seminomadic areas of Ethiopian, where is a staple in the diet. [26], Teff is harvested 2 to 6 months after sowing, when the vegetative parts start to turn yellow. In Ethiopia, teff is mostly used to make injera – a sourdough, spongy flatbread similar in width to a pancake. Huge demand meant prices skyrocketed and the Ethiopian … Rainfall or irrigation after planting is necessary for germination. Teff, a hardy crop, can be grown in both kharif and rabi seasons. However, Roosjen's company Ancientgrains BV still maintains patent rights in Belgium, Germany, Britain, Austria and Italy. The recommended planting rate is 8-10 pounds of coated seed per acre into a firm seed bed to promote good soil to seed contact. A native of Ethiopia, Teff is the smallest and possibly the most ancient of all grains. Teff grows best in moderate altitude levels. [12][11][10] Because of its very small seeds, a handful is enough to sow a large area. • Teff provides eight different amino acids acts which (when combined with Teff proteins) is a great combination for muscle building and recovery. Bot., 87, 9–17. Teff is the smallest known grain in the world, tinier even than a poppy seed. Yields decrease when annual rainfall falls below 250 mm and when the average temperature during pollination exceeds 22 °C. It is the most ancient domesticated grain having originated between 4000 BC and 1000 BC. Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Teff. The Teff Company has been supplying the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities for over thirty years with American-grown Maskal Teff. [23] Despite its superficial root system, teff is quite drought-resistant thanks to its ability to regenerate rapidly after a moderate water stress and to produce fruits in a short time span. [40] Ethiopia only received 4,000 euros over 5 years of collaboration.[41]. Teff is inherent to Ethiopia's national culture and identity[43], and the government of Ethiopia has expressed intent to hold Roosjen accountable to the fullest extent of international patent law, as well as to regain ownership over international markets of its most important food.[44]. Teff, an ancient grain from Ethiopia and Eritrea, has been growing in popularity across the world in recent years. [33] In 2015, researchers tested 28 new teff varieties and identified three promising lines that generated yields of up to 4.7 tonnes per ha. [16] In 2006, the Ethiopian government outlawed the export of raw teff, fearing export-driven domestic shortages like those suffered by South American countries after the explosion of quinoa consumption in Europe and the US. Teff is usually cultivated on pH neutral soils, but it was noticed that it could sustain acidity up to a pH below 5. [24] Seeds are either left at the soil surface or slightly covered by a thin layer of soil, but must not be planted at a depth greater than 1 cm. You can change your cookie settings at any time. [30] In 1996, the US National Research Council characterized teff as having the "potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare."[8]. Not only does Teff help people suffering from Celiac disease, IBS or heart problems but it can aid weight loss, improve circulation, support bone health and boost the immune system. [31] However, no considerable improvements concerning the susceptibility of lodging have been made, due mainly to low demand outside of Ethiopia and Eritrea. High-yielding varieties, such as Quencho, were widely adopted by farmers in Ethiopia. Being gluten-free and having a high nutritional value, Teff has become a superfood. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of getting up before dawn and walking through the morning dew barefoot to help in the Teff farms. Diversifying crops for food and nutrition security - a case of teff. [8], Teff was one of the earliest plants domesticated. [34], The "Teff Improvement Project" marked a milestone by releasing the first teff variety Tesfa to the Ethiopian markets in March 2017. This property makes teff particularly suited to a seminomadic lifestyle. It was love at first taste. It is estimated that Ethiopians get two-thirds of their protein from Teff in their diet. New Phytol., 186, 696–707. [15], Teff is the most important commodity produced and consumed in Eritrea and Ethiopia: The flat pancakes injera provide livelihood for around 6.5 million small farmers in the country. J. Finally, due to its high mineral content, teff is also mixed with soybeans, chickpeas or other grains to manufacture baby foods. Mottaleb, K.A. In 2016, Ethiopia grew more than 90 percent of the world's teff. Household production and consumption patterns of Teff in Ethiopia. Teff has a C4 photosynthesis mechanism.[24]. [6] Moreover, teff can be used to prepare alcoholic drinks, called arak'e or katikalla[6] or beer, called t'ella or fersso[18]. Teff Seed. Although teff is found in almost all cereal growing areas of Ethiopia, the major areas of production are the central and highland areas. Teff has done great things for its Ethiopian cultivators. URL: Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Lebas F., 2017. A Tiny Nutritional Powerhouse No bigger than a poppy seed, teff hails from Ethiopia, and it’s… Read More. Technol., 51, 2881–2895. Despite all the changes in my life, I found myself spending an increasing amount of time sitting on the trading floor daydreaming about the small village and the farmers I had left behind so many years ago. [5] Teff is a C4 plant,[4] which allows it to more efficiently fix carbon in drought and high temperatures, and is an intermediate between a tropical and temperate grass. Efforts to conventionally breed teff towards higher yields started in the 1950s and led to an average annual increase in yield of 0.8%. [11] It is now also marginally cultivated in India, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US, particularly in Idaho, California, Texas, and Nevada. Gebre, E., Gugsa, L., Schlüter, U. Dev. I was no more the banker but preoccupied with what I left behind so many years back. What is more, I discovered that it all came not from its origin Ethiopia, but from the US where the seed is commercially cultivated. [24] Teff germination generally occurs between 3 and 12 days after sowing. Teff, an ancient grain from Ethiopia and Eritrea, has been growing in popularity across the world in recent years. Teff Seed Bread. Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a member of the grass family (Poaceae) and is a warm season grass species.It is commonly known also as Williams lovegrass, annual bunch grass, taf or xaafii. Teff is a fine grain—about the size of a poppy seed—that comes in a variety of colors, from white and red to dark brown. My name is Yonas (Aka Yilikal) Alemu. Injera (Amharic: ənǧära, እንጀራ, ; Oromo: Budena, [Taita]; Tigrinya: Tai’Ta) is a sour fermented flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, traditionally made out of teff flour in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. [3] It is cultivated for its edible seeds, also known as teff. Teff is major & staple food crop of Ethiopian & Eritrean people where they used to prepare several sweet & savories food & beverage items such as Fermented & Non fermented breads, Porridge, pancakes, soup, stews, pudding, biscuits & cookies, cakes etc. It is the most ancient domesticated grain having originated between 4000 BC and 1000 BC. Van Delden, S.H., Vos, J., Ennos, A.R. Teff, also known by its scientific name, Eragrostis tef, is a small, gluten-free grain with a long list of health benefits. Genetic evidence points to E. pilosa as the most likely wild ancestor. • It’s a great source of prebiotic fibre which stimulates the growth of good gut bacteria. [8] It is one of the most important staple crops in these two countries, where it is used to make injera or Tayta. [7] The plant height varies depending on the cultivation variety and the environmental conditions. This tiny grass seed is a staple food in Ethiopia and Eritrea. A 100-gram (3 1⁄2-ounce) reference serving of cooked teff provides 420 kilojoules (101 kilocalories) of food energy, is a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and manganese, and contains moderate amounts of thiamin, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and zinc (table). Teff was one of the earliest plants domesticated and believed to be of Ethiopian origin. & Stomph, T.J. (2010). From the day I found this out it was impossible for me to reconnect and focus on my busy day job. Eragrostis tef, also known as teff, Williams lovegrass[1] or annual bunch grass,[2] is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the Horn of Africa, notably to modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. Alternatively, some farmers can rent threshing machines used for other cereals. (2018). The bottom line. [26] Sowing can also be done mechanically; row planting reduces lodging. [6] Average yields in Ethiopia reach around two tonnes per ha. Eragrostis tef, also known as teff, Williams lovegrass or annual bunch grass, is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the Horn of Africa, notably to modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. Teff is well adapted to the heavy, well-drained, clay soil (vertisol) areas of the Ethiopian highlands where most other cereal crops cannot be grown easily. 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