Thinai (Foxtail Millet) — Tamil Nadu's Ancient Sangam Grain

Thinai (Setaria italica) is one of the five sacred millets mentioned in Sangam literature of Tamil Nadu, traditionally cultivated in Dindigul, Salem, and Namakkal on dry hill slopes. Its seed heads resemble a fox's tail. Thinai pongal and kali are ritual foods at Murugan temples. Thinai flour is gluten-free, high in dietary fibre and iron, and is making a commercial comeback as a diabetic-friendly food.