The beautiful foliage and blooms of Red Garnet Amaranth will be a great addition to your herb garden! Green foliage shows its red highlights best in hot conditions. Delicately flavored sprouts can be used as a garnish for your salads and can be harvested in 20 days. Young leaves can be cooked like spinach. Amaranth had a sacred status in the ancient civilizations of the Aztecs and Incas since the grain was used in various religious rituals. It remains a staple food in modern Mexico and some parts of Asia being prepared in numerous dishes from sweet to savory. One traditional Mexican treat known as alegria is made with amaranth grain and honey or molasses. A supergrain amaranth can be used for gluten free flour; it also makes a complete protein when mixed with another grain. In addition amaranth greens have a higher iron content than any other green vegetable except parsley as well as containing many valuable vitamins and minerals.