Silly question: where do you buy buckwheat?

[Misoi]

Hi guys. I am wondering where do you all purchase your (organic) buckwheat? I honestly never even knew what buckwheat looked like before going raw :confused: I've been dying to try raw cereal/granola bars since I've mostly been eating simply chopped veggies and blended leafy greens, and I'm sooo ready to take it up a notch. Tomorrow I'll be purchasing a dehydrator (I'm so excited!) But I honestly have no idea if buckwheat is sold regularly or if I should go to a specialty food store. Also, I was wondering what dehydrator do you guys use or think is best? I was thinking of going to walmart or target but, I don't know... I'm ALWAYS nervous about trying something new because for some reason I feel I'll never find the right products/ingredients, which is silly since I live in Big 'ol Houston!

[klomasius]

Hey there Misoi!

I buy my buckwheat from my local wholefoods store. Usually it's stored with the grains, either in large tubs or in packets on the shelf.

Do you know what it looks like? Heres a pic link from wikipedia just in case you don't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kasza_gryczana_01.jpg

When you do find it, maybe buy a small amount so you can see if you like it. I love it sprouted and dehydrated and used in a muesli, also in raw chocolate crackles.

As for the dehydrator, can't help you there as I'm in a different country with different brands of dehydrators. I only have a round one with a circle in the middle, but if I had my time again I'd save up for at least an Excalibur 5 tray (which one day I will afford to buy).

Good luck!

[Misoi]

Ah, thank you so much! They almost look just like coffee beans ...

[ElleTatouage]

I bought the dehydrator at walmart for less than $40. I like it so far... but I do plan on buying a better one. One with a temp gauge on it. This one you just plug in and walk away. No settings :o

I've made grawnola, veggie burgers, beef jerky (for hubby), and dried fruits... all turned out great!!

[rawstrength]

Hi Misoi! My wholefoods, sadly, only has the cooked kind of buckswheat (also known as kashi). So I bought my buckwheat from www.rawbakery.com . Their 5 pound bag is a good deal, and shipping is not so bad, either. Make sure that you like buckwheat before comitting to an entire 5 pound bag, though.
I ate some buckwheat not dehydrated in yesterday and it was good. I had it with honey, cinnamon, raisins and sunflower seed milk as a cereal. What a yummy, cheap and nutritious raw meal! In case you don't get a dehydrator, it is totally possible (and maybe better) to go raw without a dehydrator. I've been raw for a year without one, and I'm just fine. My only raw equipment is a vitamix, a nutmilk bag, a paring knife and a mandoline. I don't even have a cutting board right now - yet I still make scrumptious raw meals. Right now I'm eating cauliflower rice, and for a Thanksgiving dinner I am making apple pie.

[Misoi]

That link is going straight to my favorites, the price isn't bad at all! I might order the 1 lb bag, thanks again guys. I've been having a bread/grain craving so I think the raw cereal will cure that--I've always looooved cereal at night or heck, anytime of the day. Now I'm off to search for a dehydrator, Cheerio!

[vzykov]

If you have a Russian or Ukrainian enclave/neighborhood in your city, an ethnic supermarket in that part of town is an excellent place to find buckwheat at a significant discount to Whole Foods. This is because in Russia (and by extension, in the immigrant communities), buckwheat is not a specialty food but a staple food, as frequently eaten at breakfast as oatmeal!

[Springtime]

Raw buckwheat groats are slightly green but have the same shape as the ones in the wiki image. I find them in regular grocery stores here, but perhaps that's because i'm closer to Russia than the US..

[qfmother]

I can get mine at Whole Foods, but I just ordered a 50 lb bag from Walton Feed Coop - it is a group order in my city.