What is the difference between whole buckwheat and buckwheat groats?

[goingrawchelle]

So what's the difference? I've just become part of an organic food co-op and they have "whole" buckwheat but not buckwheat "groats." When I asked them if the whole were groats they said no, but I'm wondering if it would make a difference in my raw oatmeal. Anyone have any thoughts about this? Thanks!

[TaupeRawMan]

My understanding is that whole buckwheat are generally black in color and still have the hulls on them, which you can grow into buckwheat grass. The groats are used for sprouting and eating.

[goingrawchelle]

So would you say hulled buckwheat are like groats, in that you can eat them?

[TaupeRawMan]

Hi Goingrawchelle -

sorry for the lack of clarity. The hulled groats that are light brown in color (don't use the toasted kind) and are edible after sprouting. There are some pictures on the web. One site is http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thisfoodthing.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/buckwheat.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thisfoodthing.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/buckwheat-porridge-recipe-by-dukelupus/&h=421&w=667&sz=84&tbnid=An5XozRy0iQJ::&tbnh=87&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbuckwheat%2Bimage&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1

[goingrawchelle]

Thanks TaupeRawMan for your clarification. I appreciate it!

[Eva]

You want the groats for recipes (so NOT the ones they have), and a tip for ya if you find them (or for anyone else that might have the others easily accessible) -- don't soak them as you would other sprouts. An hour or even TWENTY minutes is enough (most of them overnight is ideal).

I'm soaking some now then will rinse them a couple times over the next day. If you dehydrate them, you can do all sorts of cool stuff with them (cereal, crunch on a salad, Nestle-like chocolate, granola mix).

[goingrawchelle]

Eva, so the hulled buckwheat aren't the same as groats then? I want to use them in my raw oatmeal.

I've never tried buckwheaties or the nestle recipes, but I've seen those and they're on my list to try to be sure! Also, btw, what a great addition to my salads...thanks for that one.

[Eva]

hulled = groats :)

If you are going to use them on your salad, it's fun to add some spices (whatever YOU like) and maybe a touch of oil and salt before you dehydrate. You don't have to be all complicated about the proportions, though, just mix some stuff together and don't go too too crazy.

I'm dehydrating mine now because I'm making calzone tomorrow! :)

[goingrawchelle]

OH MY GOODNESS EVA!!! Thank you for that little "hulled = groats" that tells me all that I needed to know. :cool: As for calzones, do you have a recipe with those in it? :rolleyes: Sounds incredible! Thanks so much again!

[goobygirl]

For some reason "hulled" and "pitted" always throw me off. It seems like hulled means that the hulls should still be on, and that pitted, means there is a pit in there. I'm always so confused.....

But, pitted means de-pitted and hulled means de-hulled. I think. :(