Millet, any of several species of cereal grasses in the family Poaceae, cultivated for their small edible seeds. Millets were probably first cultivated in Asia more than 4,000 years ago, and they were major grains in Europe during the Middle Ages. Today, though they are used chiefly for pasture or to produce hay in the United States and western Europe, they remain important food staples in less-developed countries worldwide. Millet grains are high in carbohydrates, with protein content varying from 6 to 11 percent and fat varying from 1.5 to 5 percent. They are somewhat strong in taste and are mainly consumed in flatbreads and porridges or prepared and eaten much like rice.
