During 1830's a series of famines struck Russia. In response to this the Third Department of the Ministry of State Domains attempted to find new crops to alleviate the famine. Corn, Lentils, and Rice were tried before and not found satisfactory, and of course in OTL the potato ended up being the introduced crop.
Apparently the Andean grain known as Quinoa was also attempted by the Third Department. It grew in difficult climates, and proponents of the grain claimed that it could produce huge yields. In 1838 it was quinoa seed was imported from France and cultivation began in experimental farms. These experiments continued through the 1840's.
Here's the POD, instead of having a mixed bag of successes and failures WI the grain rolled straight 20's on all it's saves, that is to say WI it did perfectly. (My source states that initial tests were failures, and that even too hot of summers killed one years product entirely).
Now of course even if the cultivation proved to be successful there is the problem of how it is cooked. In OTL the Russian consul in Valparaiso was unresponsive to the Government's requests and never followed up. I think it would be successful if quinoa would be used to throw into stews and soups as a thickener. Also a Quinoa candy bar made from quinoa grains formed into bars with honey as the Mexicans use Amaranth.
Quinoa is a very productive grain, and it would grow very well in Russia's extreme temperatures. So what would a quinoa eating Russia be like? First of all if the Quinoa spreads quickly the soldiers in the Crimean War might actually fight better, since better nutrition means more energy and less tired soldiers. Famines could possibly be less extreme, so since famine was a major cause for peasant discontent and so a healthier and better fed peasantry might mean the Tsar overall is more secure.
Apparently the Andean grain known as Quinoa was also attempted by the Third Department. It grew in difficult climates, and proponents of the grain claimed that it could produce huge yields. In 1838 it was quinoa seed was imported from France and cultivation began in experimental farms. These experiments continued through the 1840's.
Here's the POD, instead of having a mixed bag of successes and failures WI the grain rolled straight 20's on all it's saves, that is to say WI it did perfectly. (My source states that initial tests were failures, and that even too hot of summers killed one years product entirely).
Now of course even if the cultivation proved to be successful there is the problem of how it is cooked. In OTL the Russian consul in Valparaiso was unresponsive to the Government's requests and never followed up. I think it would be successful if quinoa would be used to throw into stews and soups as a thickener. Also a Quinoa candy bar made from quinoa grains formed into bars with honey as the Mexicans use Amaranth.
Quinoa is a very productive grain, and it would grow very well in Russia's extreme temperatures. So what would a quinoa eating Russia be like? First of all if the Quinoa spreads quickly the soldiers in the Crimean War might actually fight better, since better nutrition means more energy and less tired soldiers. Famines could possibly be less extreme, so since famine was a major cause for peasant discontent and so a healthier and better fed peasantry might mean the Tsar overall is more secure.