Einkorn Wheat is an ancient grain originated in Anatolia, known for its high nutritional value and durability. Einkorn has become popular following the healthy eating trends in recent years due to its high protein and fiber content, as well as low gluten levels.
What is Einkorn?
Einkorn is a type of wheat called Triticum Monococcum, which is described as the ancestor of wheat species according to some sources and has a history of thousands of years. It is thought that Einkorn wheat, known as the ancestor of modern wheat, was first grown in the Southeastern Anatolia region. So much so that Einkorn is a type of wheat that is found in Gobekli Tepe, Turkey which was built 7,500 years before the Egyptian pyramids and has the first traces of the transition to settled life, and is proof that agriculture was done in that region thousands of years ago.
Why So Special?
The most important feature of einkorn wheat, which makes it valuable against all other wheats, is that its genetic structure has never been altered for thousands of years. Thanks to its single stem and tight husk structure, it has developed resistance to diseases and external damages, and these features and the hardness of the husk have supported it in terms of not showing genetic expansion and being resistant to cold.
How and Where Does Einkorn Wheat Grow?
Einkorn wheat, which develops resistance to environmental conditions thanks to its hard husk structure, can sprout even in the most infertile soils. It can be grown in arid climatic conditions and is resistant to cold. It can be grown with organic farming methods because it needs less water and pesticides. In the world, it grows in the Balkans, Türkiye, Morocco and France. Why isn’t it popular? In addition to the fact that it cannot be harvested by machine due to its spike length, nearly 30% of the wheat, which is processed into flour due to its thick husk structure, is lost. Therefore, it can be said that it is not preferred by the manufacturers. Recently, the popularity of Siyez wheat has increased due to the increase in the trend towards organic nutrition, and its production and consumption have increased.
Einkorn Flour
Einkorn flour is the flour obtained by grinding einkorn wheat and its usage areas are quite wide. It can be used to make a variety of pastries such as einkorn bread, pasta, cakes and cookies, as well as cereals, muesli, granola and other healthy snacks. It can be stored for a long time without spoiling under suitable conditions.
Why Choose Einkorn Flour?
Einkorn flour has higher nutritional values compared to other modern wheat types. Einkorn flour, which is rich in protein, fiber, minerals and antioxidants, also helps balance blood sugar as it is a type of flour with a low glycemic index. Therefore, it is a suitable food for diabetics and dieters. The unsaturated fatty acids in it have a positive effect on cardiovascular health and help lower cholesterol. Due to its richness in folic acid, it is beneficial for the health of women and babies during pregnancy and lactation. It can be said that einkorn flour is more beneficial for children, since phytic acid, which is found in most modern wheats and prevents the development of children by slowing down mineral absorption, is less in einkorn wheat compared to other wheats.
Is Einkorn Gluten Free?
Einkorn wheat is a wheat variety with low gluten content. However, it cannot be said that einkorn wheat is completely gluten-free. For this reason, it is not recommended to consume einkorn flour by people with gluten allergy or celiac disease.
Nutrition Facts
Einkorn Wheat
100 grams of einkorn wheat is about 330 calories and it contains 70 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of fat. In addition to containing 18 grams of protein, it is a grain rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium and folic acid.
Einkorn Bread
500 grams of Einkorn Bread is approximately about 1175 calories with 225 grams of carbohydrates. Einkorn bread contains 35 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, and 20 grams of fiber. These values can vary based on the recipe and ingredients.
