teff

Thân thiện

A farmer harvests teff in a sunny field.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of cereal grass: Teff is a very small-grained annual grass (Eragrostis tef) native to the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is cultivated primarily for its edible seeds, which are used to make flour. 2. A staple food grain: The seeds of the teff plant are a major food crop, ground into flour to make the traditional Ethiopian flatbread called injera. It is also used for animal forage and hay.

Usage Examples

• As a cereal crop:
  • Teff is a drought-resistant crop that thrives in various conditions.
  • Farmers harvest teff for both human consumption and animal feed.
• As a food ingredient:
  • The flour made from teff is naturally gluten-free.
  • Injera, a spongy flatbread, is traditionally made from teff flour.

Advanced Usage

• Nutritional context: Teff is often discussed for its high nutritional value, being rich in iron, calcium, and fiber.
  • Due to its high mineral content, teff is considered a nutritious ancient grain.

Variants and Related Words

• Teff grass: Another name for the plant itself.
• Eragrostis tef: The scientific (botanical) name for teff.

Synonyms

• Cereal grass: A general term for grasses cultivated for their edible grains.
• Millet: While a different grain, millet is sometimes mentioned in a similar context as another small-seeded, ancient cereal.

Notes on Meaning

The word "teff" refers specifically to the plant species Eragrostis tef and its seeds. It is not a general term for flour or bread but denotes the source grain. Its primary association is with Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine and agriculture.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an African grass economically important as a cereal grass (yielding white flour of good quality) as well as for forage and hay

Từ đồng nghĩa

• teff grass
• Eragrostis tef
• Eragrostic abyssinica