This article explores the changes produced in the New Kingdom of Granada by the introduction of wheat cultivation in the 16th century. It examines the adaptation of this crop to the Andean landscape and the cultural, nutritional and technological transformations it entailed. It also analyzes how this crop affected the relationships between indigenous Muisca and the conquerors, especially in the city of Tunja, the village of Leyva and their environs, key centers for wheat cultivation and distribution. The Spaniards viewed the expansion of wheat cultivation, the flour trade, and the consumption of bread as indicators of economic and social urban prosperity, but a number of wheat plagues that raged throughout the 17th century affected the supply of flour and bread in the city of Santafe.