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Health & Fitness

Quinoa for Passover use

An in-depth discussion of quinoa (kin-wa) as it relates to Passover dietary restrictions. Particular focus is upon Ashkanazic tradition of Kitniyot and the evolution of the Kitniyot tradition.

Is quinoa acceptable for Passover use?

The short answer is YES, provided that it has a Kosher for Passover certification. According to a minority opinion quinoa is considered Kitniyot and some Kashrut certifications label it as such. The majority of rabbis agree that quinoa is not considered Kitniyot. Please feel free to ignore the Kitniyot designation on the label.

The long answer.

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Quinoa is clearly not one of the five species of grain delineated as chametz. The five species of grain delineated as chametz are wheat, spelt, oat, barley, and rye.

In Ashkanaz communities the prevailing custom is to refrain from legumes known as Kitniyot. The majority of rabbis agree that quinoa is not considered Kitniyot. There is a minority opinion that bans Quinoa as Kitniyot. The majority of rabbis agree that quinoa is not considered Kitniyot.

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The earliest mention of the Kitniyot custom is found in the Talmud (9th century) which quotes a minority opinion as follows “Rav Johanan ben Nuri prohibits rice and millet, because it is close to leaven".

The Talmud rejects the opinion of Rav Johanan ben Nuri (Pesachim 35a). Later in the same tractate the Talmud (Pesachim 114b), Rav Ashi tells us that Rav Huna and Rava used to eat rice at the seder. Rav Ashi concludes, "We do not pay attention to the opinion of Rav Johanan ben Nuri (in this matter)". At this point in history the custom of refraining from eating Kitnyot was a minority opinion which was not practiced widely.

In later generations the Kitnyot custom is referenced as universally practiced in Ashkenaz countries. The Ba’alei Tosofot (13th century France) mention the custom of refraining from eating rice, beans, millet, and lentils. The Shulchan Aruch and later commentaries note an Ashkenazi prohibition on the following legumes as Kitniyot; beans, kasha (buckwheat), millet, mustard, lentils, peas, rice and sesame seeds (Bet Yosef, Rama and Mishnah Berurah).

The Mishnah Berurah cites three reasons for refraining from legumes known as Kitniyot:

  • Kitniyot is often grown in the same fields as other grains and other grains may get intermingled among the Kitniyot.
  • Kitniyot can be processed into products that appear as chametz creating Marat Ayin (the appearance of impropriety).
  • Kitniyot is processed and handled by the same vendors as other grains and other grains may get intermingled among the Kitniyot.

 

In my humble opinion, reason No. 2 no longer applies. A trip to Shop Rite will reveal that one can purchase Kosher for Passover cheerios, cake, bagel mix etc.  The availability of mass produced chametz imitations creates a common knowledge of their existence thereby eliminating the concern of Marat Ayin (the appearance of impropriety.) 

On the other hand, reasons No. 1 & 3 are very applicable today.  As a person who cooks chulent on a regular basis I can testify that other grains often get mixed into Kitniyot (barley is a common extraneous material found in packages of beans).

Rav Moshe Feinstein in his work "Iggeros Moshe" states that the Kitniyot prohibition applies only to those legumes which we know were specifically included in the custom forbidding Kitniyot. These items include beans, kasha (buckwheat), millet, mustard, lentils, peas, rice and sesame seeds (Bet Yosef, Rama and Mishnah Berurah). 

Conclusion

We are bound to respect the custom of refraining from those items which we know were specifically included in the custom forbidding Kitniyot. These items include beans, kasha (buckwheat), millet, mustard, lentils, peas, rice and sesame seeds (Bet Yosef, Rama and Mishnah Berurah). 

The reasons for respecting the custom are two fold:

  • Minhag avoteinu b’yadeinu - the tradition of our ancestors is in our hands.
  • The logic for initiating this custom still exists (see above). 

 

According to the logic of Rav Moshe Feinstein, also contained in "Iggeros Moshe," quinoa is not Kitniyot as it was not known or available in Ashkenaz countries during the evolution of this custom. Quinoa could therefore not have been specifically included in the custom forbidding Kitniyot.

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