I have discovered that every time I eat teff, I feel completely invigorated.

I feel it in the inside of my eyes, like it is a detergent cleaning the lenses of my eyes. I feel it in my blood too. It is so powerful, it is like I have taken a medicine.

I eat the teff as a porridge with chocolate in it, or as a side to chicken mole' (a chocolate sauce made with peppers served over chicken.) The effect of teff is awesome.

Anybody else become a teff fan like me? If not - try it, (if it is a beneficial food for you.)

I am enthused with teff--but I rarely use it for anything other than injura

Wow - haven't seen it here!! Sound great?! I wouldn't have thought as an Explorer you could have all that much chocolate? Maybe together they are a geoharmic (sp?) combo for you?

I have never tried teff, but it is a superfood on my swami.  Sounds like I should search some out to try.  Thanks for the recommendation.  

Grains and I do not get along - even teff

I love teff! But, sadly, it's an avoid on my swami.

Jared - Thank you for this thread.  Wonderful hearing of your good results with Teff.

I bought some but havn't tried it yet. It is a Beneficial for me and also a GenoHarmonic food combined with Sesame and  Watermelon seeds.  

C_Sharp - do you make injura?  Wonder if its hard to make it.

Quoted from purlgirl

Jared - Thank you for this thread.  Wonderful hearing of your good results with Teff.

I bought some but havn't tried it yet. It is a Beneficial for me and also a GenoHarmonic food combined with Sesame and  Watermelon seeds.  

C_Sharp - do you make injura?  Wonder if its hard to make it.

you basically just mix flour with water, let it ferment for awhile, then cook it like pancakes.  I'm sure you could find recipes online

Interesting.  I have never heard of this. I'll have to find more out online. Thanks for sharing this.

Quoted from C_sharp

I am enthused with teff--but I rarely use it for anything other than injura

Have only ever had these once, but they were memorable.
Teff is an avoid for me.

wow sounds awesome but malheureusamente nothing for me...

The trick with injera is that you really need a starter (like sourdough bread).

Those that do not want to wait a week to work up a starter, may want to visit an Ethiopian restaurant.  If you are sensitive to wheat, be sure to ask the restaurant whether they have mixed any wheat flour in. Wheat makes it easier to reach the right consistency.

Quoted from Lola

http://chefinyou.com/2010/02/ethiopian-injera-recipe/

That's very interesting!  I remember having that in an Ethiopian restaurant years ago.  We sat on low stools and were brought a tray with this ginormous thin, flat, spongy crepe on it, and the foods we ordered were on top of that in mounds.  We were meant to tear off pieces of the crepe to scoop up the other food, kind of stew-like meat & veggies (I forget what it was).  No silverware.  So that's injera.  I may try that sometime.  Thanks for that link!  

here is some stuff on it.

1. Teff - an energy fountain

Teff is a main component in the nutrition plan of top athletes like marathon runners:

◦direct energy:
10 to 25% of the carbs of teff are converted to rapidly available energy.

◦energy depot for performance and endurance:
Approximately 80% of the carbs have a complex structure (similar to pectin), and about 50% of them are progressively converted into sugars in the small bowel - an energy depot for endurance sports.

◦nourishment for the organs:
roughly 30% of the carbs can be processed to fatty acids in the colon, supportive for the maintenance of the immune system (this is a characteristic of teff, untypical to modern grains).


Targeting highest sportive performance, branched chain amino acids like glutamine and arginine are crucial (muscle power). Leucine stimulates the development of skeletal muscles and is most important for bodybuilders and power athletes [t.08].

2. Teff protects from injury sequels

Teff has a high quality protein composition and is considered to be amongst the best vege-table protein sources for human consumption, similar to egg protein. These proteins, together with the well-rated combination of calcium, lysine and iron, care for optimum tissue recovery and help to a fast healing of inner and extrinsic violations.

The interaction of fatty acids and trace elements works out as an excellent source for bio-active ingredients and antioxidants, supporting the convalescence of inter­nal injuries (frequent degenerative syndromes) [nutrigenomics t.12].

3. Oxygen well

Athletes, who diet teff over a time, report significantly better (higher) hematocrite values - as an effect of the high oxygen output caused by the iron-rich teff [t.03].

Phytic acid strongly reduces the absorption of minerals. It means that we can not take value of the minerals even if these are excessively available in our foods, as the absorption is blocked by phytic acid. Compared to wheat, the phytate content of teff is as low as 20% (1:5). Teff provides a much better arterial oxygen satu­ration and an enhanced CO2 output of the muscle tissues - effective to improved athletic performance.

4. Teff is free from stress proteins (gluten)

To allergy suffering persons, gluten is harmful. Yet, also the allergene tolerant organism is required to waste energy to break and remove the gluten proteins from the body. Around 30% of the population suffer of unspecific celiac disease when the immune system reacts to the blood gluten content, when the gluten molecules are inactivated by protein agglomeration. A procedure that leads to form lumps and thickens the blood, quite negatively affecting the athletic perform­ance. Coevally, it pollutes the kidneys when these are requested to filtrate and discharge the inactivated proteins in addition to the refusals of sportive acting.

MORE stuff

Minerals & Trace Elements
The minerals, trace elemente, antioxidants and vitamins in teff boost the correcting system which is established in the body to eliminate mutagenic or carcinogenic cells and thus helps to protct agains malign cell tissue.

Important enough to athletes and elderly: Genes degenerate as a consequence of competitive sports, or aging. The chance of cell mutations grows significantly then. Athletes who frequently stress their cell system appreciate teff for its capability to prevent tissue disorders caused by injuries.

Each day, our body needs to be fed with vitamins, minerals and trace elements. But today's modern cereals food normally supplies only very limited quantities of essential minerals.

Teff contains considerably high quantities of magnesium (cell tension), calcium (bones, supporting tissue), iron (blood regeneration and energy supply, catalyses the cell respiration, and is essential for the neurotransmission of our nerve system) [t.03], phosphorous, copper and manganese.

◦minerals stimulate all kind of processes, like
energy transformation in cells, building of tissue, etc.
◦minerals are part of the information transport system
(nerves & brains)
◦minerals are important for the bodies cooling system (sweating);
they have to be continuously replenished.
The trace elements and antioxidants in teff (»table) support the healing and restoring mechanisms of the cells, e.g. fighting infektions or correction of mal­func­tions (which might cause cancer if not adjusted).

I need to get some teff in DH for sure.   Thanks for all the info, Jared!  

Hey everyone

I've got a load of dark teff flour that I don't know what to do with.  I tried making injera bread - spent a week creating the starter but when I tried to make the bread it fell apart every time??  I used the link you posted Lola.  CS have you got any words of wisdom?  Teff's a diamond on my Swami, so I'd like to make the most of it .

Thanks

Andy  

I wonder if it's one of those recipes that needs all the stars to be aligned perfectly to turn out well (not the recipe for me!).  

O you could just be right - I've tried twice now and it takes far too long and uses too much flour to keep trying and failing  

It's been on my SWAMI beneficial for as long as I can remember regardless of whatever tweak has been applied, though I doubt it will be something that I can source as easily as quinoa.

I have not tried this recipe, but it looks pretty good.


http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2009/03/dark-teff-sandwich-bread.html

For those who don't want to make injira, I have been eating teff as a breakfast cereal. It takes about 10 minutes to cook, simmering in water. It is very satisfying, and does give me a lot of energy. I sweeten it with molasses. Thanks for the recipes!

Teff flour waffles are delicious!  Way better tasting than wheat.  

Quoted from Vicki

Teff flour waffles are delicious!  Way better tasting than wheat.  

That's good to know!  I haven't used my waffle iron in months, but maybe I'll make some compliant waffles for Sunday breakfast some day soon.