Buckwheat Seeds
Buckwheat, also known as
Fagopyrum esculentum, originated in the Czech Republic.
Buckwheat is most commonly used as a grain, cover crop and bee plant. The
buckwheat plant is entirely different from other grains and is not a grass. It is a summer annual with rather coarse, branched stems and large, broadly arrow-shaped leaves. Growth habit is indeterminate and the flowers open throughout a long season, so the seed crop does not mature at one time.
Buckwheat contains substances that are beneficial to the cardiovascular system.
Buckwheat is also high in amino acids. The flower tops of the
Buckwheat plant are used by herbalists in infusions to treat hyper-tension and hardening of the arteries.
Buckwheat contains no gluten and can usually be eaten by people with gluten allergies. Many bread-like preparations have been developed.
Buckwheat pancakes, sometimes raised with yeast, are eaten in several countries. They are light and foamy. Similar pancakes were a common food in American pioneer days. The
Buckwheat flour gives them an earthy, mildly mushroom-like taste.
The
buckwheat plant is an excellent honey source as the blossoms are rich in nectar, and blooming continues into the fall months. Some beekeepers plant
buckwheat primarily for such use.
Caution:
Buckwheat has caused photosensitivity in some people. Only the dehusked grain is considered to be safe.
b>Also available:
Grain Amaranth Seeds
Herbal Flower Honey
