Lupinus mutabilis
Encyclopedia
Lupinus mutabilis is a species of lupin
grown in the Andes
for its edible bean
. Vernacular names include tarwi, tarhui, chocho, altramuz, Andean lupin, South American lupin, or pearl lupin.
The bone-white seed contains more than 40% protein
and 20% fat
and has been used as a food by Andean people since ancient times, especially in soup
s, stew
s, salad
s and by itself mixed with boiled maize
. Like other legumes, its protein is rich in the essential amino acid
lysine
. It has a soft seed coat that makes for easy cooking.
It may have not been more widely used because it is bitter due to some alkaloid
content. It contains unusually high, for lupins, amounts of sparteine
, which make up nearly half its alkaloid content. However, the alkaloids are water-soluble and can be removed by soaking the seeds for some days in water.
Average protein content is 46% (varying between 41 and 51%) and average fat content is 20% (varying between 14 and 24%), which has allowed commercial oil pressing. The protein digestibility and nutritional value are reportedly similar to those in soybean
s.
Lupin
Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins or lupines , is a genus in the legume family . The genus comprises about 280 species , with major centers of diversity in South and western North America , and the Andes and secondary centers in the Mediterranean region and Africa Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins...
grown in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
for its edible bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
. Vernacular names include tarwi, tarhui, chocho, altramuz, Andean lupin, South American lupin, or pearl lupin.
The bone-white seed contains more than 40% protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
and 20% fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
and has been used as a food by Andean people since ancient times, especially in soup
Soup
Soup is a generally warm food that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.Traditionally,...
s, stew
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
s, salad
Salad
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes, including vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, eggs, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They may include a mixture of cold and hot, often including raw vegetables or fruits.Green salads include leaf...
s and by itself mixed with boiled maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. Like other legumes, its protein is rich in the essential amino acid
Essential amino acid
An essential amino acid or indispensable amino acid is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo by the organism , and therefore must be supplied in the diet.-Essentiality vs. conditional essentiality in humans:...
lysine
Lysine
Lysine is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula HO2CCH4NH2. It is an essential amino acid, which means that the human body cannot synthesize it. Its codons are AAA and AAG....
. It has a soft seed coat that makes for easy cooking.
It may have not been more widely used because it is bitter due to some alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
content. It contains unusually high, for lupins, amounts of sparteine
Sparteine
Sparteine is a class 1a antiarrhythmic agent; a sodium channel blocker. It is an alkaloid and can be extracted from scotch broom. It is the predominant alkaloid in Lupinus mutabilis, and is thought to chelate the bivalents calcium and magnesium...
, which make up nearly half its alkaloid content. However, the alkaloids are water-soluble and can be removed by soaking the seeds for some days in water.
Average protein content is 46% (varying between 41 and 51%) and average fat content is 20% (varying between 14 and 24%), which has allowed commercial oil pressing. The protein digestibility and nutritional value are reportedly similar to those in soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
s.
External links
- Plants for a Future
- Lupins - geography, classification, genetic resources
- 'From the Andes: First Potato, Then Quinoa, Now Tarwi?' in The Natural Farmer, Fall 2004 (p. 40)
- 'Tarwi' chapter, in _Lost Crops of the Incas_