The name “Buckwheat” can cause confusion as it is not actually related to wheat at all!
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.
We can honestly say that Buckwheat has stolen our hearts and we hope it will yours too!!!
Hulls
Hull refers to the outer casing that the buckwheat groat grows within. Once the groats have been milled from the hull, we are left with the hard-outer shell.
Naturally hypo allergenic, resistant to both dust mites and bed bugs, the buckwheat hull is a perfect alternative stuffing to down and microfibres for pillows, bedding and crafts.
It is also a wonderful natural mulch for both flower and vegetable gardens in lieu of bark chips or pea straw mulch.
groats / flour
Groat is the seed within the hull of the buckwheat plant and the little heart shaped superstar that forms the basis of our Pure New Zealand Buckwheat Company.
The groat is naturally gluten free and is widely used as an alternative to gluten containing product in everyday cooking and baking. With its many health benefits, it is truly a “healthy” alternative on many levels!
honey
This liquid gold doesn’t need too much of an introduction we would hope! Perhaps less well known is exactly how honey is made.
Our Pure New Zealand Buckwheat honey is made by honeybees that have collected their nectar from the buckwheat flowers. As the flower of the buckwheat plant is tiny, the bee must work extra hard to collect enough nectar to help in the creation of this honey making it even more of a prize! Buckwheat honey is a unique and delicious darker honey that has molasses or treacle undertones in its flavourings with all the benefits that our heart shaped groats can offer.
