A little Buckwheat history finds that it
was first cultivated in southeast Asia, possibly around 6000 BC and spread
from there to Europe and Central Asia. It is believed that it was
domesticated in western China and has been documented in the Balkans of
Europe around 4000 BC. The pollen from buckwheat has been found in
Japan dating from 4000 BC.
Buckwheat is thought to be the one domestic
crop to withstand the highest elevations. It is grown on the edge the
Tibetan
Plateau or on the Plateau itself.
Buckwheat was one of the earliest
crops introduced by Europeans to North America.
Buckwheat is another
grain considered gluten-free and is used as a rice alternative in gluten
free diets. Unhulled buckwheat can be sprouted and used for salads.
These triangular seeds are most often used to
make the flour or sprouts. Unhulled buckwheat is what gives
buckwheat pancakes that dark gray color since the hulls are black and the
inner grain is light tan.
RECIPE
