Contributed by Gaye Whitmam from Sticky Mitts kitchen
Have you heard about Einkorn?
It’s an ancient grain that’s been making a comeback in recent years due to it’s nutritional value.
Einkorn is from the species Triticum monococcum. Originally from the Fertile Crescent area, it is thought to be the first wheat cultivated by man over 12,000 years ago. It moved from the Fertile Crescent area to Eastern Europe and eventually to the Italian Alps where it was found in 1991 with the frozen remains of Ötzi the Iceman. They examined his last meal and it contained meat, roots, berries and einkorn wheat.
This grain has been making a comeback because of its high protein content and the fact that it grows easily on minimal amounts of land and in adverse conditions. After all of these centuries, it has remained a pure wheat. In fact, it’s the only wheat that has not been hybridized. It has 14 chromosomes compared to 42 chromosomes in modern wheat.
Like other varieties of ancient wheat, it is hulled, which means it has a protective layer that stays intact when it is harvested. The protective layer has to be removed before milling which requires an extra step and additional time. As a result, the yield for this type of wheat is lower than the yields for modern wheat.
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