Seeds from Red Quinoa. It was so vital a food for the Incas that it was referred to as chisiiya mama or mother grain in the Quecha language. The grain was so sacred that each season the first seed was planted by the Inca king using a golden spade. Today, quinoa is still a staple crop grown by farmers throughout the highlands of Argentina Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador and Peru. For the people of this region quinoa is an important source of protein a protein of such high quality from a nutritional standpoint that it often takes the place of meat in their diets. Quinoa plants are tall with broad leaves and large seedheads. Plants range in color from green to red to purple. Annual Herbs.