Cheap quinoa?

Is there anywhere in the city that sells cheap quinoa?

My first guess for inexpensive quinoa would be:

El Condor
2349 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252-5112

This is an Ecuadorian retail store/restaurant, and they have loads of South American grains. You might call and see what they have.

I eat a lot of quinoa. The best price I've found is at Marketplace on Oakton in Skokie.

4817 W Oakton
Skokie IL
847-677-9330

Trader Joe's sell quinoa that's very reasonably priced.

Veloute wrote:Trader Joe's sell quinoa that's very reasonably priced.

Veloute,

Is TJ still carrying quinoa? I used to buy it there for a while, if I was lazy about stopping somewhere else to get it (quinoa at TJ is more reasonably priced than at WF, but Oakton Marketplace is even cheaper), but I haven't seen it on my last few TJ trips.

What prices are you all seeing? I've been buying in bulk at Whole Foods, but I suspect that's not the cheapest option.

Okay, so my favorite source isn't cheap ($4.90 lb + shipping), but I have fallen in love with this red quinoa from Alter Eco. Its a bit more firm when cooked up and has a bit more nutty flavor. And its pretty.

http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncom ... nbr=783814

And here's my favorite summer quinoa recipe - toss in some leftover roast chicken for a main dish:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/ ... ALAD-12245

Jenn_in_RoPa wrote:Okay, so my favorite source isn't cheap ($4.90 lb + shipping), but I have fallen in love with this red quinoa from Alter Eco. Its a bit more firm when cooked up and has a bit more nutty flavor. And its pretty.

I just noticed the Alter Eco red quinoa the other day at WF. It might be a little cheaper there than what you're paying by mail order, if I recall correctly. I'm glad to know that there is a difference besides the color. I generally don't believe in splurging on quasi designer grain, but I may give in and work it into something this weekend.

happy_stomach wrote:

Veloute wrote:Trader Joe's sell quinoa that's very reasonably priced.

Is TJ still carrying quinoa?

I'm pretty sure I saw it at the TJs in Park Ridge last week. Unfortunately a tornado was about to hit while I was in the store so I didn't linger.

I've never tried quinoa but it sounds like I should.

The last time I needed some I bought a few boxes and haven't gotten anymore since the spring. So, to answer your question, I don't know if they're still carrying it or not.

Sassafras, I actually live in RP right now, and I buy quinoa at La Unica when I don't feel like making a trek to Whole Foods.

La Unica
1515 W Devon Ave
Chicago 60660

At something like $2 for a one-pound bag, it is definitely not the cheapest option, but the convenience and the lunch counter make it an attractive one nonetheless.

Thanks for the tip on alter eco quinoa at Whole Foods - I'll check it out! ...And I may have to make a La Unica trip, too.

Another reason to love Unica. Thanks Uptown Girl, and welcome to Rogers Park.

When I asked a TJ's associate about the lack of quinoa recently she told me there was some sort of shortage of the stuff due to a drought/flood (can't remember which) in Peru, but they supposedly will stock it again. I haven't noticed a shortage anyplace else - picked up some of the red referred to earlier at Harvestime for about $2.40 for the same size box as TJ's.

Hi,

Not sure what is cheap quinoa. I saw a 12-ounce box for $3.29 at Garden Fresh in Northbrook last night.

Regards,

HummusFanatic wrote:When I asked a TJ's associate about the lack of quinoa recently she told me there was some sort of shortage of the stuff due to a drought/flood (can't remember which) in Peru, but they supposedly will stock it again. I haven't noticed a shortage anyplace else - picked up some of the red referred to earlier at Harvestime for about $2.40 for the same size box as TJ's.

I picked up a 1 lb box of organic quinoa at TJs in Park Ridge for $3.99. The checkout person commented that it must have just come back on the shelves.

Thanks to this thread, I tried quinoa for the first time, cooking it with some onions, garlic, and a couple of diced carrots. It doesn't look like much out of the box but I like the texture and taste once it's cooked. The high protein content is a bonus.

How much is regular quinoa at Whole Foods? There's none anywhere near me so I'd have to count the $4 CTA roundtrip into the price comparison.

autumnmist wrote:How much is regular quinoa at Whole Foods? There's none anywhere near me so I'd have to count the $4 CTA roundtrip into the price comparison.

Regular, organic quinoa seems to be the same price as Trader Joes that I listed above ($3.99). I was surprised at this so I doublechecked the amount in the package and it was the same. There was a red quinoa and maybe some other kind that were a little more IIRC. I don't think WF had non-organic quinoa. I was at the WF on Peterson.

grits wrote:

autumnmist wrote:How much is regular quinoa at Whole Foods? There's none anywhere near me so I'd have to count the $4 CTA roundtrip into the price comparison.

Regular, organic quinoa seems to be the same price as Trader Joes that I listed above ($3.99). I was surprised at this so I doublechecked the amount in the package and it was the same. There was a red quinoa and maybe some other kind that were a little more IIRC. I don't think WF had non-organic quinoa. I was at the WF on Peterson.

Cool! Thanks for the response and for remembering to check for a random person on the internet.

Not useful for city dwellers, but quinoa was $3.09 for regular and $3.69 for red in 12-ounce boxes at Shop & Save.

Hi,

At Costco in Glenview, I saw a 4-pound bag of Organic Earthly Delights Quinoa for $10.49.

I don't know if price is considered cheap.

Regards,

Harvestime on Lawrence in Albany Park sells several types of quinoa very reasonably priced.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

At Costco in Glenview, I saw a 4-pound bag of Organic Earthly Delights Quinoa for $10.49

Ditto for the Lincoln Park location several weeks ago.