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Proso millet (cheena)

Panicum miliaceum
Teluguవరిగెలు VarigeluHindiचेना ChenaTamilபனிவரகு PanivaraguKannadaಬರಗು BaraguMarathiवरी Vari

Names: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research

Pictures

Proso millet (cheena): The grain
The grain — from: "Proso.JPG" by Maduixa at Serbian Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Proso.JPG) · Public domain
Proso millet (cheena): The plant
The plant — from: "Mature Proso Millet Panicles.jpg" by Jschnable, Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mature_Proso_Millet_Panicles.jpg) · CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Proso millet (cheena): An old botanical plate
An old botanical plate — from: "Panicum miliaceum illustration (01).jpg" by Nicolaus Thomas Host (Icones et descriptiones graminum austriacorum, 1801-1809; plates by…, Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panicum_miliaceum_illustration_(01).jpg) · Public domain

Nutrition of the raw grain, per 100 g

Protein11.5 g
Fat3.5 g
Carbohydrate (available)64.5 g
Dietary fibre (total)9.6 g
Calcium30 mg
Iron2 mg
Magnesium153 mg
Zinc1.4 mg

Source: Malathi VM, Venkateswarlu R, Jacob J, Ratnavathi CV (2023). Nutritional value of millets. Indian Farming 73(01):88-90 (ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research).

Every nutrient in the raw grain — 56 values, per 100 g

Energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre7
Water (moisture)8.67 g
Energy378 kcal
Protein11.02 g
Fat4.22 g
Ash (total minerals)3.25 g
Carbohydrate (incl. fibre)72.85 g
Dietary fibre (total)8.5 g
Minerals5
Calcium8 mg
Magnesium114 mg
Phosphorus285 mg
Potassium195 mg
Sodium5 mg
Trace elements5
Iron3.01 mg
Zinc1.68 mg
Copper0.75 mg
Manganese1.632 mg
Selenium2.7 µg
Vitamins10
Thiamine (B1)0.421 mg
Riboflavin (B2)0.29 mg
Niacin (B3)4.72 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.848 mg
Vitamin B60.384 mg
Folate (B9)85 µg
Folate, food85 µg
Folate (dietary folate equivalents)85 µg
Vitamin E: alpha-tocopherol0.05 mg
Vitamin K10.9 µg

Not detected in this grain (the table leaves it blank or zero): Vitamin A (IU).

Amino acids18
Tryptophan0.119 g
Threonine0.353 g
Isoleucine0.465 g
Leucine1.4 g
Lysine0.212 g
Methionine0.221 g
Cystine0.212 g
Phenylalanine0.58 g
Tyrosine0.34 g
Valine0.578 g
Arginine0.382 g
Histidine0.236 g
Alanine0.986 g
Aspartic acid0.726 g
Glutamic acid2.396 g
Glycine0.287 g
Proline0.877 g
Serine0.644 g
Fatty acids11
Saturated fat (total)0.723 g
Lauric acid (C12:0)0.003 g
Palmitic acid (C16:0)0.528 g
Stearic acid (C18:0)0.154 g
Monounsaturated fat (total)0.773 g
Palmitoleic acid (C16:1)0.014 g
Oleic acid (C18:1)0.739 g
Eicosenoic acid (C20:1)0.02 g
Polyunsaturated fat (total)2.134 g
Linoleic acid (C18:2, omega-6)2.015 g
Linolenic acids (C18:3, total)0.118 g

Source, one for the whole list: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). Values exactly as the table prints them; published values for the grain, not a laboratory test of our packs. Tap a name for what it is and does.

Where it comes from

  • Proso millet originated in northern China; today mainly cultivated in China, India, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine and others. (FAO, International Year of Millets 2023 - About)
  • Foxtail and broomcorn (proso) millet are generally understood to have been domesticated in Northern China. (Yang X et al.)
  • Proso millet is one of the oldest crops cultivated by humankind (IIMR). (ICAR-IIMR 'Millets Chalisa' farmer leaflet)

In India’s old books

  • Vajasaneyi Samhita: '... priyangavas ca me 'navas ca me syamakas ca me ...' (grains in the Vasordhara litany) (TITUS e-text)
  • Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary: 'anu ... Panicum Miliaceum, VS.; SBr. xiv; MundUp.' (Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries)
  • Carakasamhita, Sutrasthana 27.17: 'hastisyamakanivaratoyaparnigavedhukah / prasantikambhahsyamakalauhityanupriyangavah' (kudhanya grains; anu listed beside priyangu) (GRETIL)
  • Amarakosa: '... vrihibhedas tv anuh puman' (anu, masculine, is a kind of grain) (GRETIL)
  • Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary: 'cinaka ... sg. Panicum miliaceum, Hcat. i, 3; (ciNaka), KatySr. Paddh.' (Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries)
  • Tamil Lexicon, p.2574: 'pani-varaku, n. Panicum miliaceum; varaku-vakai' (Tamil Lexicon (University of Madras, 1924-36), Digital Dictionaries of South Asi)

Where it grows

  • Grown as a rainy-season crop; Sept-Oct sowing on the east coast of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh; irrigated catch crop in Bihar and UP; also central/eastern UP, western Bihar, North-East. (ICAR-IIMR 'Millets Chalisa' farmer leaflet)
  • Why dry land: short duration (70-90 days), heat and drought tolerant, shallow roots so needs less water; suits scanty rainfall and shallow soils. (ICAR-IIMR 'Millets Chalisa' farmer leaflet)

In the kitchen

  • ICAR-IIMR recipe: proso millet rawa idli (proso rawa + urad dal, fermented overnight). (Dayakar Rao B, Vishala AD, Arlene Christina GD, Tonapi VA)

Recipes