BUCKWHEAT – Simply Awesome

Buckwheat belongs to a group of foods commonly called “pseudocereals” which are seeds that can be consumed as cereal grains but do not grow on grasses like its name sake.  It is in fact, closely related to the rhubarb and sorrel genre of plant.  This means that it is gluten free and can be utilised in cooking instead of gluten containing product, including as a flour and rice substitute.

Buckwheat is an extremely hardy plant that grows beautifully in the fertile South Canterbury soil.  The seed itself is a heart shaped groat when removed from the hull, and the flowering plant is very fragrant and pure white in colour, making it incredibly attractive to bees, who then produce a unique and delicious darker honey that has molasses or treacle undertones in its flavourings.

The hull is used as a non-allergenic pillow stuffing with many benefits to the user, including no allergic reaction, no dust mite or bed bugs and better all-round sleep. If you are a gardener and looking to mulch your garden, the buckwheat hull is lauded to ensure the root systems stay moist in the summer and warm in the winter, impede weed growth and it looks pretty too!

Along with this, the buckwheat plant is considered extremely effective in holistic farm management practices in New Zealand agriculture.  Holistic management refers to the partnership of both conventional and organic farming methods in trying to reduce the chemical inputs into both the crop and the ground from which it comes.

Our gorgeous little heart shaped superstar has also become popular as a health food due to being gluten free, a good source of fibre, rich in minerals and various plant compounds too – especially rutin.