Sorghum
Sorghum is a type of tall grass that farmers grow to feed animals, make flour, syrup, and even alcoholic drinks. It looks like corn but smaller and the seeds can be red, yellow, tan, or even black in color. The plant itself can grow up to 12 feet tall!
Farmers all around the world like to grow sorghum because it doesn't need a whole lot of water, but it can still survive in really hot and dry climates. That's why it's so important in places like Africa and India, where water is sometimes scarce. Sorghum is also good for the soil because it doesn't take a lot of nutrients from the ground.
When people want to use sorghum for food or drinks, they have to do a few things to the seeds. First, they have to take off the outer layer (which is usually inedible), and then they can grind them up to make flour. This flour can be used to make bread, noodles, or tortillas.
If someone wants to make syrup out of sorghum, they have to squeeze the juice from the stalks of the plant and then boil it down to make it sticky and sweet. Some people like to put sorghum syrup on their pancakes or waffles, just like maple syrup.
Finally, sorghum can be used to make alcohol! Farmers in places like the US and Australia sometimes use sorghum instead of grains like corn or barley to make beer or whiskey. This also makes sorghum an important crop for farmers who want to make different types of products, like craft beer or specialty spirits.
Farmers all around the world like to grow sorghum because it doesn't need a whole lot of water, but it can still survive in really hot and dry climates. That's why it's so important in places like Africa and India, where water is sometimes scarce. Sorghum is also good for the soil because it doesn't take a lot of nutrients from the ground.
When people want to use sorghum for food or drinks, they have to do a few things to the seeds. First, they have to take off the outer layer (which is usually inedible), and then they can grind them up to make flour. This flour can be used to make bread, noodles, or tortillas.
If someone wants to make syrup out of sorghum, they have to squeeze the juice from the stalks of the plant and then boil it down to make it sticky and sweet. Some people like to put sorghum syrup on their pancakes or waffles, just like maple syrup.
Finally, sorghum can be used to make alcohol! Farmers in places like the US and Australia sometimes use sorghum instead of grains like corn or barley to make beer or whiskey. This also makes sorghum an important crop for farmers who want to make different types of products, like craft beer or specialty spirits.
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