Are whole buckwheat grouts raw?

[Mechele]

I got some at Whole Foods for one of Alissa's recipes (Burger Buns) because I didn't see raw buckwheat, only the whole buckwheat grouts. Anyone know what these are and if they are raw?

[exurb]

The ones that are brown on the outside and also called Kasha are NOT raw, they are toasted.

My raw ones are pale in color, sort of vary anywhere from light beigy green to having tinges of pink.

does that answer it for you? They will sprout tiny thin tails eventually after soaking if they're raw and you let them sprout long enough.

[Mechele]

Thanks for the info! These are light in color, so they are raw, and I know they're not kasha. So, what is the difference between the grouts and plain buckwheat?

[exurb]

Mechele, as I understand it they get called groats when the hard, rough outer hull is removed. Like a wheat groat or oat groat doesn't have the very outer hard scratchy frond-like hull still attached. It is still a whole grain with the bran attached, but the very outer hull has been removed in a groat.

With buckwheat I also have the "plain" grain, and it is dark black, with an outer hull on it. That is what I use to grow buckwheat lettuce.

[mindelicious]

I buy buckwheat groats from whole foods and they do sprout so they are raw!

[sachis2112]

I've never had them not-sprouted. maybe you can take a small batch and try to sprout them to check if you don't know for sure.