What are the varieties and types of buckwheat?

It’s not for nothing that buckwheat is called the “queen of cereals.” It contains complex carbohydrates, vegetable protein, a lot of vitamins and microelements. Modern stores provide many varieties of buckwheat from different manufacturers. This article will tell you how to choose the right buckwheat.

Types and varieties of buckwheat

There are many varieties of buckwheat. Each dish has its own option.

Types of buckwheat

They differ in the method of processing the raw materials:

1. Yadritsa – the most common polished buckwheat. It consists of whole or slightly split grains, freed from the husk. This type of cereal contains much less litter and is easy to wash. Steamed or fried kernels are offered for sale.
2. Done – These are crushed, crushed grains, also known as “chaff”. Prodel cooks much faster than core. The porridge from it turns out tender and homogeneous. Prodel is recommended for making casseroles, meatballs, and krupenniks.
3. Green buckwheat - this is a core that has not gone through the roasting stage. Especially popular among lovers of healthy eating. This type is soft, retains its green color and all useful qualities.
4. Buckwheat flakes – kernels, flattened and steamed. Used for instant porridges and in the production of dietary bread.
5. Buckwheat flour - the finest grind of buckwheat. Used for making bread noodles, pancakes, buns.

Sprouted green buckwheat will be a wonderful addition to various salads and other dishes. However, with prolonged heat treatment, this cereal loses its beneficial properties.

Reference. Buckwheat porridge was brought to Rus' from Greece. However, its homeland is considered to be the highlands of the Himalayas, where its wild species still grow. Buckwheat had many names - black porridge, pagan, Turkish grain, black rice.

Buckwheat varieties

Determined by the degree of purification of the product:

• first (highest) grade kernel - the purest and most carefully processed cereal without extra seeds or unprocessed kernels;
• second grade - only up to 7% of litter, husks and other impurities are allowed in a pack;
• third grade - the most unclean cereal, the package contains up to 10% rubbish and husks, it is better to sort it out and rinse it before use.

How to choose buckwheat

On grocery store shelves there is a wide selection of buckwheat from different manufacturers.

When purchasing, pay attention to the packaging, appearance, smell and taste, as the batch may have had improper storage and transportation conditions.

By packaging

Most often, buckwheat is sold in plastic bags. They perfectly protect the product from moisture and harmful substances. When purchasing, carefully examine the pack for tears, holes and other damage to integrity.

High-quality cereals should not contain foreign impurities. If the kernels are approximately the same size and color, this indicates good quality of processing and sorting of the cereal.

Reference. Before purchasing, please pay attention to the net weight indicated on the package. Often the same product grade sold at the same price, but differ in weight.

By color

After steam treatment, the cereal acquires a pleasant brown color of varying intensity. It boils well, but is not recommended for baby or diet food, as it retains few nutrients.

Unparboiled kernels have a pale creamy tint, giving off a yellowish or greenish tint. This porridge takes longer to prepare than from steamed grains, but it retains its beneficial properties.

Reference. If the cereal is a rich brown color with a red tint, you should not purchase such a product. During production, the cereal is subjected to intense roasting, and microelements and vitamins are not preserved in it. Such nuclei have edges that are darker than the central part.

Taste

Cooked porridge There should be no sour or bitter taste. All this indicates that the cereal contains harmful microorganisms that will cause poisoning.

Reference. The most popular cooking method is cooking on water. However, there are a lot of interesting dishes that contain cereals. Sprouted buckwheat grains are also tasty and healthy; they have a pleasant taste with nutty notes.

Beneficial features

Buckwheat is good because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. Their prolonged digestion provides the body with a long-lasting feeling of satiety. The cereal also has a high protein content and a low fat percentage.

Reference. Buckwheat is ideal for baby food, as it has many beneficial properties and high calorie content. The product is successfully used as the first complementary food for babies. Cereals have a positive effect on the overall development of the child and build immunity.

The most useful are considered to be kernels and green buckwheat. They are least subject to pre-processing.Green buckwheat contains all 8 essential amino acids: tryptophan, lysine, methionine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and histidine. In terms of their concentration, only legumes are ahead of it, but buckwheat is better absorbed by the body.

It contains:

• potassium – necessary to maintain cardiac activity;
• calcium and phosphorus are essential for the skeletal system;
• iodine – has an important effect on growth, development and metabolism;
• fluoride is an important element for tooth enamel;
• molybdenum – supports the activity of certain enzymes;
• cobalt – participates in the process of hematopoiesis, the functioning of the nervous system and liver;
• iron - strengthens the immune system, provides tissues with oxygen;
• vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folic acid) play an important role in metabolism, take part in the formation of red blood cells, regulate the reproductive function of the body, and participate in the formation of new cells.

What is plastic buckwheat

Plastic buckwheat is a counterfeit cereal produced in China. What is included in its composition is not known exactly, but presumably it is synthetic compounds and waste from the food industry. Features of the product are low quality, poor digestibility, harmful to allergy sufferers and people with liver disease.

In the People's Republic of China, this type of cereal is classified as a low-quality food. Below artificial buckwheat is only compound feed. Do not chase for maximum cheapness - buy domestically produced cereals from famous brands.

Conclusion

The most common type of buckwheat is egg grains, and green cereals are the most useful. It is not subjected to heat treatment, therefore it contains a maximum of useful substances.When purchasing, check the integrity of the packaging, pay attention to the expiration date and color of the cereal - the lighter the better.