What Are The "Tails" On Quinoa?

Ever had perfectly cooked quinoa? You'll know it by that little al dente "caviar" bite, a snappy, toothsome moment that lets you know you're eating something healthy. You can attribute the great texture to quinoa's curly tail. Except it's not a tail, right?

You can't see it in its dry form, but the seed's or kernel's germ or bran (or tail, whatever) comes out right about the time your boiled/steamed quinoa is finished cooking. The little sprout is actually the plant's endosperm, the food that feeds the seedling while it's growing, and boy is it nutritious. Between its delicious, nutty flavor, firm but chewy texture and humongous list of health benefits, the superseed with a tail is about as healthy as it gets.

Want more knowledge? Here are 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Quinoa.

More Whatchamacallit on Food Republic: