sprouting buckwheat

[ANIMLOVER]

I bought it.
it was organic and green
soaked it overnight
the water was gooey, the grains are squishing between my finders - obviously not raw
BUT it was green!!
what went wrong???
where do I buy raw buckwheat? I got thing from my local health food store.
There is a new whole foods near me.
can someone please give me a label to look for?
thanx

[RawTruth]

If it's raw, it will say on the label. For instance, at Wild Oats, the bins will be labelled "raw organic almonds" or "toasted almonds" -- same thing with the buckwheat. It is labelled "raw" -- if it's not labelled that way, then it's not raw even though it may be organic.

However, your buckwheat may very well have been raw. My raw buckwheat is always soft after it's been soaked, many of the "grains" are greenish colored. Also, it's always slimy when it's been soaked -- it should be rinsed several times. Remember, since buckwheat is NOT wheat, it's not hard like wheatberries are.

Here's what whfoods.org has to say (partial -- there's tons more on their website):

While many people think that buckwheat is a cereal grain, it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel

You'll find nutritional information on that website also.

Good luck with your next batch. I like them because they sprout so quickly, I can use them in granola or crackers and breads without days of preparation.

[Allison]

Yes, hulled buckwheat does have a slight green hue. I think your problem lies in the fact that you soaked it overnight. Buckwheat goes bad easily, and I never soak it longer than 15-30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly, because buckwheat soak water is thick and yucky. Let it sprout for 24 hours or so, and it's done.

[bellamausi]

I think you had the right kind of buckwheat, raw that is. It takes quite a while to rinse it out, because of its slimyness. As for soaking, I soak mine all day or over night all the time, and it doesn't go bad. So I think what you saw was just the way buckwheat is! ;)

[ANIMLOVER]

Yup
It sprouted, 24 hours later!
I was very happy to see little tails!!
Weird though, the seeds were mush between my fingers B4 the sprout!
Thanks for the help!!

[Allison]

I really think the seeds being mushy are a result of soaking too long.

[ANIMLOVER]

Oh MY

I just made Alissa's buns and Nomi Shannons cookies with the buckwheat!

YUMMY!!!

Problem was I couldn't stop eating either one!!!!


Buckwheat is much tastier than wheat berries!

ANyone have yummy recipes??

[caramba]

Buckwheat is much tastier than wheat berries!

ANyone have yummy recipes??

Thanks for the tip. I've had no luck making "dough-y" things with wheat, so will definately try the buckwheat. :)

[zeeraw]

Hi Caramba,

Do you know if you can find wheatberries here in Australia, I saw something about whole wheat kernals (Can't remember exactly what they were called) but they looked a bit like rice in terms of its shape and the packet said you could sprout them. Is this the same thing as wheat berries or are they totally different?
Thanks
Z :)

[rawpriestess]

sounds like wheatberries to me.

They look kind of like fat brown rice, with a line down the center,

this is what the wheat berries look like

[caramba]

Just picking up late on this one...

I've got whole wheat grains which sprout (look as per rawpriestess' description) but I haven't found anywhere in Sydney that knows about the difference between wheat grain & wheat berries. That's why I've kind of given up on sprouting wheat...I found the wheat I had was too hard even after sprouting to mix up into any kind of "dough-y" substance.

Sorry...can't be of much help. But I've just got oat groats & am looking forward to doing lots of yummy things with them.

[PixieGreen]

Fiona, I couldn't use sprouted wheat and kamut in crackers & breads without my masticating juicer. I have a L'equip, others are the Green-blahblah and the Champion. The juicer basically grinds the sprouted grains into a sticky dough.

Without a juicer you can make stuff with buckwheat, oats, and flax.

Christa