About
WE WERE FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF QUINOA LOVERS.
I Heart Keenwah was started by two friends, Sarah and Ravi, in 2010. Ravi, an avid traveler and self-proclaimed foodie, loved quinoa so much that he traveled to Bolivia to learn more about the tiny, versatile seed. He became enamored with the idea of making ready-to-eat quinoa snacks, so he brought the idea back to his friend Sarah in Chicago. The two tinkered around in the kitchen until Quinoa Clusters were born. Crunchy, sweet, and as wholesome and natural as quinoa itself, this snackable quinoa treat inspired a line of healthy products we’re proud to make. Our simple ingredients and surprising flavors are a fun way to “heart” yourself by the handful.
WHY QUINOA?
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a South American ancient superfood known as the "mother of all grains" (although it’s technically a seed). It’s a complete source of protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids) - the same kind of protein found in meat and dairy.
Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, low-glycemic, high in fiber, packed with vitamins and minerals, and has a high protein content - between 14-18%.
Our love for quinoa prompted us to start making I Heart Keenwah quinoa snacks. All of our snacks feature quinoa as the primary ingredient, and we work hard to turn more people onto quinoa. Welcome to the quinoa club!
WHERE DO WE SOURCE?
We source our quinoa exclusively from the Salar de Uyuni on the altiplano of southern Bolivia. The native peoples of the Andes began to cultivate quinoa around 4,000 years ago. The quinoa grown in this region is referred to as "royal quinoa", lauded for its heirloom seeds and its sustainable farming. The farmers of Bolivia follow farming traditions that are completely organic. Other countries such as Peru and Ecuador are also big producers of quinoa. However, Bolivia remains our preferred source. Click on the videos below to learn more about our sourcing, and read our blog posts about Bolivia here.