Indians. According to the Encyclopedia of Agriculture, tricolor quinoa was discovered and cultivated by the Indians of the Inca Empire, an ancient civilization in Peru. In the ruins of the Inca Empire, archaeologists have found traces of the cultivation and consumption of tricolor quinoa. The crop was widely grown and eaten during the Inca Empire and was considered an important source of food. Today, tricolor quinoa has become a healthy food around the world, receiving widespread attention and love.