Quinoa is a seed that comes from a species of Chenopodium or goosefoot plants. Many people call quinoa a whole grain, but that description is not entirely accurate. A true grain comes from a plant that is a member of the grass family, so although quinoa can be served like many grains, it is technically not one.
The closest relatives to quinoa are vegetables that come from a family of flowering plant known as the chenopods. These include spinach and beets. Quinoa is native to Peru and was considered a sacred plant by the Incans who once inhabited the Andes.