Jideani I A
Biological Sciences Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1999;54(4):363-74. doi: 10.1023/a:1008193503688.
The focus of this article is the traditional and technological uses of two tropical cereal grains: Digitaria exilis (acha) and D. iburua (iburu); with emphasis on their carbohydrate and protein components. Some useful attributes of the grains emanating from present knowledge are discussed. The major classes of traditional foods from these grains are thick and thin porridges; steam cooked products, e.g. couscous; and nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages. The proteins in these grains are not easily extractable; however, the digestibility of the proteins are better than those of sorghum and millet. The high levels of residue protein in them may have important functional properties. Technologically, acha and iburu can be utilized in ways similar to rice. The two grains require minimal processing due to grain size and location of constituents. Whole acha and iburu grains are now used for quick cooking, non-conventional food products including weaning foods of low bulk density and breakfast cereal with good fiber content. The grains could be used in a wide variety of other products. Cookies, crackers, and popcorn, made in an almost endless array of forms are examples. The breeding of acha and iburu cultivars with good kernel properties is critically important to their utilization potential.
龙爪稷（阿恰）和伊布鲁龙爪稷（伊布鲁）；重点关注它们的碳水化合物和蛋白质成分。讨论了基于现有知识得出的这些谷物的一些有用特性。这些谷物制成的传统食品主要类别有浓粥和稀粥；蒸煮食品，如蒸粗麦粉；以及非酒精饮料和酒精饮料。这些谷物中的蛋白质不易提取；然而，其蛋白质的消化率优于高粱和小米。其中残留蛋白质的高含量可能具有重要的功能特性。在技术方面，阿恰和伊布鲁的使用方式可类似于大米。由于颗粒大小和成分位置，这两种谷物所需的加工极少。整粒阿恰和伊布鲁谷物现在用于快速烹饪、非传统食品，包括低容重的断奶食品和纤维含量高的早餐谷物。这些谷物可用于多种其他产品。以几乎无穷无尽的形式制作的饼干、薄脆饼干和爆米花就是例子。培育具有良好谷粒特性的阿恰和伊布鲁品种对它们的利用潜力至关重要。
