The amaranth is originally from the continent of America. It formed the staple food of the Aztecs. Cultivation of this grain began 8000 years ago and there are three species being used for cultivation. Scientific names of these amaranth species are as follows: Amaranthus
hypochondriacus, Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus. The number of amaranth species found in the world is 60, however, most of these are counted as weeds. Until the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors (in 1500s), amaranth was the main crop grown in Mexico. This plant species was almost wiped out of America. However, in few remote areas, cultivation of this cereal continued. It was in the 1970s that research on this plant began in the US. Today, the amaranth crop has spread across continents and is grown in different countries of Africa and Asia.
