Buckwheat is a plant crop with broad leaves and white flowers, grown for its triangular grains. It is sold as dark flour and is included in various flour mixes. Buckwheat is considered healthy due to its high fiber and protein content, but can cause allergic reactions when consumed in large quantities. It is also used as animal fodder, a cover crop, and for honey production.
Buckwheat is a plant grown for its triangular grains. Unlike most other grains, it is not a grass but a plant crop. This means it has broad, spreading leaves; it also has lacy white flowers. Cultivation of this plant has been declining in the United States, where other grains have supplanted it in popularity, but it continues to be produced in a number of countries, including Japan and Canada.
Most commonly sold as dark flour, buckwheat gets its color from the husks left over during the milling process. This grain is usually included in a variety of types of flour mixes, such as pancake and waffle mix. Natural flour is also available, perhaps for baking bread. It is also sold in whole or cracked form for use in breakfast cereals or to add texture to breads and other baked goods. Wheat has a distinctive nutty flavor that can be quite pleasant on the palate, especially when contrasted with other, milder flours.
Buckwheat grows during the summer months when the risk of frost is over. The plant ranges from 2 to 4 feet (marginally over 0.5 meters to 1.25 meters) in height. It takes about two months to mature and when it is ready to harvest, the entire field is mowed and the plants are stacked. After they have dried, they are threshed – a process in which the hard outer shell is removed so the grains can be packaged for sale and use.
Nutritionally, buckwheat is generally considered to be quite healthy. It has a high fat content and therefore requires special handling because it can become rancid. Thoroughly drying the grain helps reduce this problem and is thought by some to be worth the effort due to its other nutritional values, including its high fiber and protein content. It should be stored in a cool, dry place, or refrigerated in more intense heat, to prevent spoilage.
Wheat-based flour is often used in Japan to make traditional soba noodles. In the West, in addition to its food uses, it is also often used as animal fodder, both in the form of pasture crops and in the creation of feed formulas. It is also used as a cover crop because it establishes itself well, protecting the soil and smothering weed species. Beekeepers use buckwheat to make honey because it flowers well in summer and produces a large volume of rich, flavorful nectar. This arrangement is mutually beneficial to the beekeeper and farmer, as the plant requires pollinators to reproduce.
When consumed in large quantities, this grain can cause allergic reactions, usually manifested as skin rashes. Serious reactions deserve the attention of a healthcare professional. Mild reactions can usually be treated safely by stopping consumption until the skin has cleared and eating moderate amounts thereafter.
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